City Bypassed Bidding Rule for Internet Site

Didn't the City of Lakeland beg for help in the beginning? Click title for story link. LAKELAND The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority ignored city purchasing policy when it awarded a $42,500 contract to a Tampa woman to produce a Web site opposing a state rail plan. Anne Furr, executive director of Lakeland Downtown Development Authority Click to enlarge Jim Verplanck "It should have been bid," city Purchasing Manager Mark Raiford recently told The Ledger about the contract, awarded late last year. The city's purchasing rules call for competitive bidding on goods or services costing more than $1,500. That didn't happen in the case of the deal made with Rosemary Goudreau. And the LDDA board paid Goudreau $40,000 even though the Web site was never completed. The site was to oppose a state plan to buy railway from CSX for use as a commuter rail line. The LDDA is concerned that would send more trains through downtown Lakeland.