GRAND JUNCITON, Colo. (KREX) — On September 20th the city of Grand Junction introduced a draft of a new purchasing policy. Chapter 15 of the newly drafted document pertains to the city’s self-performance policy—essentially setting financial parameters on projects the city can do without soliciting bids. That proposed limit is 750,000 dollars.

It’s very much a concern for us.

Cori Elam, Co-owner Asphalt Specialists and Supply Inc.

Local business owners in the construction business contacted WesternSlopeNow.com expressing concern over the proposal. Cori Elam, Co-owner of Asphalt Specialists and Supply Inc. said not only would $750,000 be the biggest self-performance policy in the state, but it would eliminate job opportunities for small businesses, “That knocks out 99% of the bids that would go to private industry.” While 99% is a bit of an exaggeration of the 23 projects the city put to bid this year only seven would be put to bid if the proposed $750,000 bid number was put in place.

Elam also voiced concerns about the quality of construction work across the city going down if the self-performance policy was enacted. She said private industry is required to meet certain standards in their work.

“When the city self-performs they don’t have to cover any of those requirements and they’re left to just kinda do what they want,” Elam told WesternSlopeNow.com.

On the work we do as contractors we’re not allowed to do this. If we do that kind of work we are instructed to remove it and replace it at our expense.

Rick Davis, Owner of Mountain Valley Contracting

Rick Davis, the Owner of Mountain Valley Contracting, showed WesternSlopeNow.com firsthand some of the construction work the city ‘completed’ on the riverfront trail near the Blue Heron Boat Ramp (the entire trail isn’t complete but portions are finished). While the trail won’t crumble beneath your feet, it’s certainly not the best concrete work in the city. The edges of the trail aren’t straight, cuts in the concrete aren’t clean, some cracks are already showing, etc.

I understand the city needs to self perform some work–that makes perfect sense–but the city should not compete against small industry because you’re just killing your town, killing tax payer money and you’re causing issues with all the small bussinesses in town.

Cori Elam, Co-owner Asphalt Specialists and Supply Inc.

To see pictures of the city’s work and a comparison to private industry watch the news story at the top of the page.