Snarky McSnide says, A meal that cost the taxpayers $17,000?

A meal that cost the taxpayers $17,000?

When public property is sold it is supposed to be to the highest bidder. Not in Sanford.

Monday, two competing entities’ proposals for the old jail on Palmetto were considered by the Sanford City Commission.

One group, composed of successful restaurant and bar owners in the downtown area, offered to pay $77,000 for the building, spend up to $700,000 on improvements, and complete the work in 10 months.

The second group, composed of some local citizens, offered $60,000, would spend $500,000, and complete the improvements in 18 months.

The Mayor, having no conflict of interest, begged off from voting because he said he had done business with one of the applicants.

Deputy City Manager Tom George said, “Both proposals were so solid we were not able to clarify a ranking to bring to the commission”.

Each commissioner noted the difficulty of the decision and complimented both groups on their proposals.

Then came the vote:

All in favor of the highest bid, the most money spent on improvements, the fastest buildout?

Nope!

All in favor of the lowest bid, the least money spent on improvements, the slowest buildout?

Unanimous!

How could that happen?

The way to a politician’s heart is through his stomach!

The winning group went first, and at the end of their presentation brought out samples of potential dishes for the commissioners to try. Must have been something in the food, how else to explain what happened?