No Bids for New Clinton Mower

Just in time for fall sporting events, the Clinton Department of Public Works (DPW) received approval by the Board of Selectmen to purchase a new, 66-inch riding lawn mower.

What was interesting about the whole process of obtaining the equipment, said DPW Director Peter Neff, is that the town found it needed a written invitation-literally-to get someone to sell the mower to it.

"No one bid on the project," said Neff.

As Neff explained to the selectmen at their meeting last week, when he went out to bid on the single piece of equipment, he had no respondents.

"Business must be good," said Selectman Dolly Mezzetti.

After no bidders emerged, Neff said his department sent requests for quotes (RFQ) to four local businesses and followed up with phone calls, ensuring that all four received the RFQ.

This time they received one response.

"We received one quote prior to the stated deadline," said Neff.

One other quote did come in, but it was past the deadline and didn't contain all the specifications required in the RFQ.

Neff felt the lack of responses to the bid process and RFQ wasn't necessarily due to a resurgence of business in the lawn mower industry, but more likely, business owners were still hesitant about the economic outlook, had lower inventory, and less money to outlay for equipment.

"No one wants to put their money out there and no one stocks anything anymore," he said.

In the end, Giant Oak Power Equipment, LLC, of North Branford will supply a 66-inch Exmark 35-horsepower, zero-turn riding mower ($13,699.99) with a three-bag collection system ($2,650.00), trash container ($39), and hitch kit ($79). After discounts, the total amount for the mower and accessories comes to $13,007.99.

The company has provided the majority of service on the DPW's other mowers, which include a 72- and a 76-inch.

Headquartered out of its Nod Road facility, the town's DPW is responsible for the maintenance and general upkeep of town roads, properties, fields, and beaches. It is responsible for the mowing of the sports and playing fields and the maintenance of the field's irrigation systems. It also completes the paving, snow plowing, leaf cleanup, and sweeping of miles of roads as well as the installation of new road signage. It takes care of the crosswalks, sidewalks, and the painting of centerlines. In addition, it manages the operation and maintenance of the town's refuse, recycling, and bulky waste transfer center.

Neff said he had $17,000 approved in his budget and capital plan for the equipment.