The Mayes County Commissioners rejected a bid on a new tank for Disney Fire Department for the second time.

Disney Fire Department is seeking a new 3,000 gallon plastic tank for their 1994 Ford fire truck. The bid of $97,260 received from Deep South Fire Trucks was the single bid from the second letting of bids.

Commissioners had opened the first bids in May. An offer of $48,647.80 came from Safety Materials Installation For Law Enforcement Services (SMILES). Deep South bid $97,260, the same price they submitted the second time.

Disney Fire Chief Pete Bona and Disney Mayor Bill Aycock, also a firefighter, addressed the commissioners about the single bid received in this bidding process.

Aycock told the commissioners that the fire department needs a truck. Aycock said the specifications SMILES had submitted were generic. He said the tank in the SMILES bid can be welded to any specifications by any vendor.

Alva Martin, District 1 Commissioner, advised going out for bids a third time. “Why do you guys want to give $48,000 more for the same thing?” he asked.

Aycock said he is concerned about “opening a can of worms” by accepting a bid from another company without knowing much about them.

“We know what product is out in the field,” said Aycock.

“I think you need to rebid it,” said Martin.

Martin suggested the fire department be more detailed with their specifications. He said he has spoken with another company who would have bid the second time, but refused because of the required specs.

“This other company said it was bid specific to one company,” Martin said.

“Nothing in here is proprietary,” Aycock said.

Aycock said the county has seven Deep South fire trucks in various fire departments. He said Disney is trying to be consistent with what other fire departments have done.

“Forty-eight thousand dollars is a pretty big spread,” said Martin.

District 3 Commissioner Melvin Pritchett agreed with Martin on seeking bids a third time. District 2 Commissioner Darrell Yoder made the motion to rebid the tank.

• Right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation will begin soon for two bridges in Districts 1 and 3. The bridge over Rock Creek in District 1 is north of Adair on Road 370, east of Highway 69. Funds encumbered for right-of-ways were $22,500 and the utilities will cost $40,500.

The Snake Creek Bridge, south of the Rock Store near Rose, washed out in the May 1 flood. The bridge is located on South 447 Road south of Scenic Highway 412. Commissioners encumbered $48,500 for utilities and $23,500 for right-of-way acquisitions.

The resolutions must be approved by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The funds will come from county bridge and road improvement money.

• The commissioners approved junking equipment for Mayes County Health Department and Mayes County Emergency Management. The health department needs to dispose of old electronic equipment, including computers, printers, a fax phone and some telephone equipment. MCEM has two desktop computers that are worn out and no longer in use.