During a special meeting Aug. 14, Councilor Tylor Elm said the Communications and Information Technology Committee reviewed the fiber management system by VETRO Inc. He said the system provides detailed tracking of lines, nodes and connections for the fiber optic network; integrates with other data sources related to the network; and would aid with troubleshooting and planning. By having a network map available, he said it could also reduce repair times by hours.
Councilor Brent Fennessey said he didn't agree with waiving the bid requirements for the $75,000, three-year agreement.
"I'm not seeing the logical sense why we should be waiving the bidding requirements," Fennessey said. "There are literally hundreds of fiber management systems out there. We look at three, brought one of them to the committee who is then allowed the advantage of making a presentation to the committee. Then it's here to waive that bidding requirement."
Fennessey said he would much rather go through the "formal and fair" process of getting bids.
Mayor Jim Paine decided to split the question to determine whether the city would waive the bidding procedure and decide the agreement separately.
"If this were a one-year contract, it wouldn't be required to go out to bid," Paine said.
Costs exceeding $25,000 are subject to bid requirements in Wisconsin.
"We get the request to waive bidding requirements from directors all the time," Elm said. "Sometimes it even skips committee. We brought this to committee to try to vet that and answer those questions ... I don't think this is anything particularly unique here."
Broadband Manager Stephanie Becken said she would do whatever the council decides, but it would take time to develop the request for proposals. She said it could create a hardship for the project because construction of the fiber network is set to begin Sept. 3.
It is most accurate to input the data as the fiber is going into the ground, Becken said.
"When it comes to some of this technical stuff, it's important to have the right software in place," Elm said. He said the software works with ArcGIS, the city's geographical information system software; the COS Systems software, which will provide the interface among the ConnectSuperior network, internet service providers and consumers; and the Nokia equipment ConnectSuperior is in the process of buying.
"I'm a big believer in the bidding process," said Councilor Jack Sweeney. He said while the council hasn't always selected the lowest bidder, he said the information should include an explanation about why the company was selected.
Councilor Ruth Ludwig encouraged councilors to consider the impact of changing software annually on employees' time.
"The CIT (Communications and Information Technology) committee has members, IT members, that work in the field and know this, and we have a consultant who recommended this," Ludwig said. "We have GIS people (who) looked over this software and recommended this software."
The council split 6-4 to approve waiving bid requirements. Elm, Ludwig and councilors Nicholas Ledin, Jenny Van Sickle, Garner Moffat and Lindsey Graskey voted in favor of waiving the bidding requirements. Sweeney, Fennessey, and councilors Mike Herrick and Mark Johnson voted against it.
Councilors also considered amending the agreement to a one-year period but split on the same line to reject a shorter agreement.
Sweeney asked what the city would save if the three-year agreement was approved.
Becken estimated that the city would save about 3% in cost increases during the second and third year, and about $7,500 annually because VETRO agreed to waive COS Systems integration fees for all three years.
The council approved the three-year agreement in a 9-1 vote. Fennessey cast the only no vote.
© 2024 the Superior Telegram (Superior, Wis.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
