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Local contractors may get a leg up in Olmsted County’s competitive bidding, following a forceful argument from board chair Jim Bier.

While the results may be more global, the issue emerged when county environmental services staff requested a company with out-of-state roots be awarded a bid to extract and sell valuable metals from the county’s incinerator post burn.

The results of recapturing non-shredded ferrous metal showed a tie between CIMCO - a company based in Illinois with a location in Zumbrota- and locally owned and operated Watson Recycling. CIMCO won the bid in a coin toss, which is standard procedure in the event of a tie, John Helmers, county director of environmental resources, explained. CIMCO did outbid Watson recycling for an additional process in which the ferrous metals are shredded, which upgrades the value of the metals the county will sell.

CIMCO was “clearly the winner of the competitive bid process,” Helmers explained.

Bier maintained it is his understanding that this process is not commonly used by the county, while Helmers responded that all options are considered for their economic value at any point in time.

“Best value goes beyond price,” said Bier. “You’ve got somebody here in town that pays property taxes, has kids that go to school here, they’ve been here forever, so why are we flipping a coin?

“I want a little box there that says five points or ten points for being a local contractor.”

The majority of the board spoke in favor or creating a systematic preference for local contractors.

Deb Palmer, county director of purchasing informed the board that this bid was a straight cost bid, not a best value bid.

Jeremiah Watson, of Watson Recycling noted that his company had recently opened up a $3.5 million dollar facility along Highway 52.

“I do feel we contribute significantly more to the local economy than a company that is out of state,” he said.

Chad Zlykowski, Zumbrota branch manager and co-owner of CIMCO Recycling also addressed the board, stating that he has lived in southeastern Minnesota his entire life, though his company is headquartered out of state. He noted that what appears to be a small difference in bids will save the county substantial cost.

“There’s several hundred tons of shredded materials out there, and the four percent difference over a number of years will add up to serious money…that’s about $15,000 a year,” Zlykowski said.

The board voted unanimously to table the motion to award the contract, asking that staff supply more information on bidding criteria. County administrator Richard Devlin stated that staff will not entertain alternate methods of bidding until directed to do so by the board.

Rick Dold, director of public affairs at Rochester Area Builders, addressed the board on the benefits of working with local contractors. He will bring more information to the February 5th county board meeting, as well as the February 4th Rochester City Council meeting.