| Bids are way to go for liquor store |
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Posted: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:52 pm
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Sometimes, a little competition is a good thing.
Such is the case with the possibility of a new liquor store in Northfield.
After literally years of consultant’s reports, council wrangling and reported improper mayoral influence on the process, the City Council may have hit upon a successful and ultimately money-saving way to select a site for the new liquor store.
Detractors of the current site say it is too small, lacks adequate parking and now, the city faces escalating OSHA fines for safety violations on the property. Last week, the council, decided rather than select a site themselves, to open the process up to bids.
Landowners whose properties were ranked as among the best in the latest consultant’s report will be contacted and asked to submit a bid, but anyone interested in selling their property to the city for the new store can also submit.
Interim City Administrator Joel Walinski said soliciting bids will keep the process open and competitive.
He’s right. Often, news of impending land purchase negotiations can artificially inflate prices. In addition, consultants are not infallible. Perhaps a landowner will come forward with a property that hasn’t been considered yet and that may be a cheaper, more interesting alternative.
Once the bidding closes, all proposals will be evaluated by staff based on criteria such as cost, site size and whether the location meets the council’s goals for a new site. Staff will forward their top pick to the council around November.
If the process works as advertised, the council will have before them the cheapest, best site available in the city.
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