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NewsFriday, August 31, 2007 9:26 AM CDT
Grievance filed over delay of contract renewal
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EUREKA -- A highway department personnel issue has led to a grievance being filed by an employee and Highway Engineer Dennis Bachman's contract renewal delayed two months.

The Road and Bridge Committee tabled a recommendation on Bachman's contract twice, keeping the issue from reaching the full board. His six-year contract expires at the end of November.

Terry Mool, Panola Township highway commissioner, brought a petition to the county board signed by all 17 highway commissioners in Woodford County.

"We wholeheartedly support Dennis Bachman," said Mool, urging the board to renew the contract.

Bachman declined to comment on the situation, as did board members and Administrator Greg Jackson, citing personnel issues.

Turmoil within the department extends past Bachman, however, and may have started June 27 after Dan Steffen, a highway department employee, purchased oil from an unapproved vendor.

Midwest Asphalt Repairs of Eureka won the closed bid contract to supply oil to the county for just over $300 per truckload. However, on June 27, pickup for the load would have to be before 4 a.m., said Steffen. He calculated the overtime for four road crew employees would cost $300 to $500 to report four hours early.

"As foreman I've made decisions like this many times, especially if it saves the county money," said Steffen.

Instead of purchasing the oil from Midwest, Steffen paid about $35 more to purchase it from 3D, a company owned by his brother.

Bachman issued a verbal warning, but Steffen said he was later suspended for one day without pay by Jackson. Steffen has filed a grievance to be heard by the Central Services Committee.

"To keep the job going I thought it would be best to get the oil and keep going," said Steffen. "All this started boiling up whenI got in trouble."

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Reader comments on this story - 1 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

BILLY BOB wrote on Aug 30, 2007 8:09 PM:

" When a company bids an exclusive contract with the government it is with the agreement that the goods or services are provided during the normal business hours of the agency. It also insures the agency as a favored customer allowing them commited guaranteed service . To then go outside of the contract and insist that the agency absorb additional cost and accept services outside of ordinary business hours is a breach of contract. If the agency so desires it may seek services from others providing the same or like services. Furthermore the agency has a requirement to seek the goods or services at the lowest cost to the tax payers. Furthermore the contracted company has the obligation to meet the contractual agreement or offset the excessive cost to the agency. In other words if Midwest Asphalt contracted to provide the oil it should have done so within normal business hours. They have the obligation then to reimburse the agency any overtime incurred or allow the agency to purchase from an alternate dealer and reimburse the agency the difference, or request to vacate the agreement. Stephen did nothing wrong except protect the public interest. "

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