Moose Jaw city council awarded the contract for the repair and replacement of sidewalks, ramps, curbs and medians to North Star Concrete Inc., but it isn’t coming without some controversy.

North Star Concrete was not only the second-lowest bidder on the tender.

“The city has determined that the lowest bidder did not meet the standards required under the clear terms of the tender documents that they filled out,” said Mayor Fraser Tolmie. “These reasons are confidential and will be released to the rejected bidder.”

North Star gave a bid of about $535,000. The capital budget was set out for $495,000 for the repairs, so council accepted $449,000 or 78 per cent of the bid.

However, the lowest bid was $395,000 to complete all of the work.

While the motion passed during executive committee on May 11, Coun. Brian Swanson asked for a recorded re-vote.

Swanson felt the reasons to disqualify the lowest bidder should be dealt with as a third-party civil matter.

“There are extenuating circumstances there and I do feel that Coun. Swanson is probably right, some of those things should be dealt with at another level of legality,” said Coun. Heather Eby, explaining why she voted for the second-lowest bidder.

“But those do colour my opinion on this and I am comfortable voting this way and I wish I could say more but I can’t.”

He pointed out that the lowest bidder came under budget, meaning about 25 per cent could have been done, while the next lowest bidder can only to 78 per cent of the work at the top of the budget.

Tolmie agreed that the taxpayers lose in this scenario, but the fact remains that the lowest bidder did not qualify under the terms of the application process for confidential reasons.

The revote to award North Star Concrete the contract passed with Tolmie, Eby, Dawn Luhning and Crystal Froese for and Swanson, Scott McMann and Chris Warren opposed.