Monday night, the Habersham County Commission came to a consensus on who would remove the pile of debris from Winter Storm Izzy at the Habersham County Fairgrounds.
The debris from the storm was piled at the fairgrounds while the county’s public works department worked to clear county roads during the storm, and has been sitting in there ever since.
The county put the removal of the debris out for bid and received a total of three bids between March 10 and March 16.
Palmer’s Firewood and Farm Services, owned by Commission Chairman Bruce Palmer’s son, James Palmer, was the lowest bidder for the project at $10,200. Rider Grinding Services, who quoted the project at $14,000, and Higgins Construction, who quoted the project at $19,750, were the two other bidders.
“I feel there’s absolutely no issue with Chairman Palmer’s son doing the work,” Vice-Chairman Bruce Harkness said. “I feel certain that it is a legitimate, honest, fair deal for the taxpayers.”
Commissioner Jimmy Tench wanted to know why the public works department couldn’t take care of the debris on their own with the chipper the commission recently approved the purchase of. Public Works Director Jerry Baggett said that the contracted service would provide a larger chipper and that the mulch created by it would be used at the county landfill.
In a 3-1 vote with Tench in opposition and Palmer recusing himself, the board awarded the bid to Palmer’s Firewood and Farm Services.
