At Monday afternoon’s meeting Trustee Steve Boyd had the matter added to the agenda for further discussion.

Boyd introduced the board to what appeared to be a State Law that would prohibit awarding a no-bid contract when the amount of the contract exceeds $100,000.

It is not clear at this point if the law referenced by Boyd is a State or Federal Law, the contract is between the Township and the Contractor and that would make you believe that the State Law would apply. But not so fast, the project must be approved by the USDA, and the project is using Federal Funds.

The representatives of the USDA have clearly state that wanted Schneller’s company to do the work. They point to a paragraph in the law that say’s that they can award the contract without a bid when time is of the essence.

Normally, Federal Law trumps State Law and State Law trumps Local Law. So the plot thickens, just in time for Halloween.

Ruotsala Construction is contesting the no-bid contract. Ruotsala had done the majority of the sewer work up to recently. At the previous Township Meeting, Attorney Marvin Marks, representing Ruotsala, questioned the legality of the procedure used to award the contract to rival Snow Country. Marks also intimated that he would be seeking a restraining order against the implementation of the contract.

Up to today no legal action has been taken by Ruotsala.

Since the bid specs have yet to be approved, Snow Country cannot begin construction on the laterals along Sunset Road.

The saga is far from over and perhaps we will soon find out who gets tricked and who gets the treat.