The North Little Rock City Council last week retroactively approved purchases made in March of firefighter equipment because the city's procedure for the purchases wasn't followed.
The fire department bought $67,737.64 worth of equipment for 24 new firefighter positions filled through a federal grant, then reimbursed the city with federal Act 833 funds that were to fund the positions. Any city purchases of more than $20,000 require City Council approval, and bids must be sought or the bid requirement must be formally waived.
"We didn't follow the process," City Attorney Jason Carter said.
The City Council voted 7-0 Monday -- Alderman Debi Ross was absent -- on an ordinance to correct the error and waive formal bidding procedures. The protective equipment and bunker gear, or "turnouts," were purchased through Casco Industries Inc. of Shreveport, a previous supplier and bidder of firefighter equipment for the city, according to the legislation.
"We've been using the same company when we needed two or three of these turnouts, and those were not needed to be bid out," North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith said. Because so many were needed, "we went above the amount needed to bid out.
"We made a boo-boo," Smith said. "We already have the equipment, and it's already been paid for. We're covering our back end because we ordered it three to four months ago."
Also, he added, the transaction came while the city was changing out its computerized accounting software, so the transaction was missed until the new system was up and running.
"Under the new system it won't happen again," Smith told aldermen. "Our new computer software we have will catch this."
The City Council approved the 24 new hires in July 2015 by accepting a $2.63 million Federal Emergency Management Agency Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant and raising the number of allowed firefighter positions to 172. The grant is for two years.
Metro on 07/17/2016