Withers protests award of boat ramp bid

            At the Dec. 2 meeting of the Franklin County commission, county planner Alan Pierce opened bids for the contract to build the proposed Eastpoint boat ramp and turned the bids over to consulting engineers Bailey, Bishop and Lane, of Port St. Joe, for a recommendation.

            Ben Withers of Panacea came in with the low bid at $206,000, followed by Poloronis Construction of Apalachicola, at $ 239,000.

            At the Dec. 16 commission meeting, Bailey, Bishop and Lane recommended Poloronis be awarded the contract because the submission packet from Withers was incomplete. They said it lacked a schedule of base bid prices, and a detailed breakdown of pricing of items included in the bid. The commission then awarded the contract to Poloronis.

            At the Jan. 6 meeting, Pierce said Withers has protested the award of the bid with a letter. He is represented in the case by attorney Nick Yonclas of Eastpoint.

            "I have never been in this situation," said Pierce, who thought a bid protest hearing would be necessary to resolve the dispute.

            "We will speak with Mr. Poloronis and I believe he will work with the county," said County Attorney Michael Shuler.

            Pierce said the county is still awaiting several permits so construction cannot begin immediately anyway. Commissioner Pinki Jackel requested Shuler investigate whether Withers' request was valid. - By Lois Swoboda