City council draws fire over out-of-town tree purchases
by Brent Shrum, Kootenai Valley Record
June 10, 2008
The Libby City Council is catching flak over the Libby Tree Board’s purchases of trees and supplies from out-of-town businesses.
At a meeting last week, Antler Tree Nursery owner Allen Olsen said he and other local business people are unhappy with the tree board’s buying habits over the past three years. Olsen said there are six nurseries in Lincoln County, and none have been given the opportunity to bid on tree board projects. He noted that the board is spending money from local donations and Montana state grants.
“Not a dime should have been taken out of Lincoln County,” he said.
Olsen submitted a written request seeking copies of invoices for purchases made at several nurseries and other businesses in Kalispell, Plains and Bonners Ferry.
Mayor Tony Berget said the issue was brought to his attention recently and read a memo he had sent to all city employees and volunteers. The memo commends the employees and volunteers for stretching their budgets and “finding the best deals possible” but adds that it is city policy to buy local whenever possible.
Former city council member Stu Crismore, whose family owns Blossom Boutique, said the memo should be “more direct” and “require, rather than suggest” that bids be sought locally.
The city shouldn’t make it mandatory that everything be bought from local suppliers, but those businesses should at least have a chance to bid, Crismore said.
“You’ll never hear a complaint from our business and probably any of the others if we’re given an opportunity,” he said.
Pointing out that no one from the tree board was present at the meeting, Councilman Doug Roll said the issue should be tabled until board chair Vicky Lawrence is available.
“I don’t want to hear hearsay or why they think she did this,” he said. “I want to hear from Vicky.”
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Editor’s Note: See the June 9, 2008 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, on Monday, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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