By Ryan Lewis
Correspondent
JASPER, Tenn. – When small-town city councils are awarding contracts for work, the general rule is to choose the lowest and best bidder.
That choice, however, can be difficult when the second-place bidder is the only local contractor in the race.
“With the economy, we have to watch every dollar,” Jasper Mayor Billy Simpson said. “We always want to go with a local company if possible, but we have to take the best deal we can get.”