A lack of open bidding caused City Council members Tuesday to question whether a private golf course should receive three-quarters of a million dollars in taxpayer money.
"We're using the public's pocketbook," said Councilman Jack Benson. "I don't understand not advertising that bid."
The city discussed at length Tuesday during the City Council's Public Works Committee meeting a stormwater renovation project at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club and the city putting $750,000 into the $1.3 million project. The council is expected to vote on the issue next week.
City officials maintain the course's drainage ditches need fixing because they were built by the federal government during the Depression in the 1930s and are public domain.
Public Works officials said Tuesday the country club solicited five bidders for the project and selected the contractor based upon who was the most qualified. City officials did not name the contractor during the meeting.
"Was this chosen 'eeny meeny miny moe' out of the phone book?" Councilman Andraé McGary asked.
City Engineer Bill Payne told council members he would have no problems with it being rebid in the public domain.
"At the end of the day, it makes no difference how it is contracted to Public Works," he said.
City Attorney Mike McMahan, who is working on a contract with the country club, said he would strongly encourage the parties to bid openly in the public.
"That will be my recommendation," he said. "That the department rebid."
In other news, the city of Chattanooga also said it would have to purchase 34.8 acres, along with the county, from the federal government for the Enterprise South industrial park. The city's portion will be $163,500, records show.
The purchase comes because the city promised 1,300 acres to Volkswagen and has had to take some property over the past year from the plant for right of way for roadwork. The council will vote on the item next week.