2008 Woodie Awards
Joslin elected for second term as city mayor
Commission also accepts $13K bid for building upgrades
By: Frank Wisswell and Nick Persons
Issue date: 1/9/08 Section: News
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He got it Monday when the Mount Pleasant City Commission re-elected him to a second term as mayor.
"I'm excited," Joslin said. "I appreciate the support from my fellow commissioners."
Jim Holton, meanwhile, was elected to his first term as vice mayor.
"It's an honor," he said. "I never thought I would ascend to that position."
Holton replaced Steve Bissell, whose term on the commission expired last year in November's election.
The commission also voted Monday to pay almost $13,000 to Moline Heating and Cooling in Alma for a new heating and cooling system at the Mount Pleasant Department of Public Works building.
Commissioner David McGuire voted against the bid, citing a bid for just more than $500 more from Mount Pleasant Heating and Air Conditioning. McGuire suggested the city accept the bid from the local company.
"It would be my thought that we should stay local," McGuire said. "For $500, we shouldn't be going out of town."
Holton agreed with McGuire.
"I'm going to support my local company," he told the commission.
Mount Pleasant gives local businesses a preference if the two bids are within 2 percent of each other. However, even after the 2 percent was applied, Moline's bid almost was $250 cheaper, according to a memorandum from Michelle Smith, an analyst for the Department of Public Works.
Commissioner Bruce Kilmer recommended the commission stick with the city's policy of accepting the lowest bid.
"If we change our procedure and vote against the low bid, what does that do for the integrity of our bidding process?" Kilmer asked the commission.
Holton said though he understood why the commission voted the way it did, he still would have preferred staying local.
"I'm a local businessman," Holton said. "It's so close to the 2 percent, I wanted to accept their bid."
Joslin also took time for announcements on city-related issues and concerns to express his displeasure with the Planning Commission's recent decision to "postpone indefinitely" any ruling on allowing a tattoo parlor in downtown Mount Pleasant.
"It concerns me because it doesn't allow the public to have any input," Joslin said. "That disturbs me a little bit."
Joslin said by postponing the decision indefinitely, the planning commission prevented ruling on the tattoo parlor by any board, including the city commission.
"They're supposed to be an advisory board to us," Joslin said.
Joslin said the city commission can not make any sort of ruling until it receives a recommendation from the planning commission. He said his issue with the commission had nothing to do with tattoo parlor.
"If they don't recommend anything, we can't really do anything," he said.
Others at the meeting were more concerned with the prospect of a tattoo parlor downtown.
Mount Pleasant resident Bob Bush said he was unhappy with the way the issue was handled.
"Frankly, I'm a little offended," Bush said.
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