Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contract and issue purchase orders as needed with The Dexter Company for the purchase of (1) Tractor with a Rear and Flail Mowing Deck. This purchase will be made for the Department of Public Service, Division of Infrastructure Management.
The Division of Infrastructure Management will use the equipment to maintain the landscaping throughout the City of Columbus. The City of Columbus, Fleet Management Division, approved the purchase of this equipment to replace equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.
The Purchasing Office advertised and solicited competitive bids in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to competitive bidding (Solicitation RFQ032835) through Vendor Services. The City received one bid for the (1) Tractor with a Rear and Flail Mowing Deck on June 11, 2026 and it was tabulated as follows:
Company Name Bid Amount City/State Majority/MBE/FBE
The Dexter Company $181,848.38 Bucyrus, OH Majority
The award is to be made to The Dexter Company as the lowest responsive and responsible and best bidder for all lines of its bid of $181,848.38
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against The Dexter Company.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for The Dexter Company is CC006581 and has expired 7/16/2025. Contract compliance number will need to be updated prior to execution of contract.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available and appropriated for this purchase within the Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund, Fund 2266.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The department requests emergency designation for this ordinance so this equipment can be put into service as quickly as possible to prevent interruption to, or disruption of, the City’s landscaping maintenance program.
Title
To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with The Dexter Company for the purchase of (1) Tractor with a Rear and Flail Mowing Deck; to authorize the expenditure of up to $181,848.38 from the Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund to purchase the equipment; and to declare an emergency. ($181,848.38)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Division of Infrastructure Management, needs to purchase (1) Tractor with a Rear and Flail Mowing Deck to maintain the landscaping throughout the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, this purchase has been approved by the City’s Fleet Management Division; and
WHEREAS, the Purchasing Office received formal bids on June 11, 2026 for (1) Tractor with a Rear and Flail Mowing Deck for the Division of Infrastructure Management; and
WHEREAS, The Dexter Company submitted a bid in the amount of $181,848.38 for (1) Tractor with a Rear and Flail Mowing Deck and is the lowest responsive and responsible and best bidder; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation in the Department of Public Service to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with and to issue purchase orders to The Dexter Company in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of Solicitation Number RFQ032835 on file in the Purchasing Office; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend funds to pay for the equipment; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to enter into contracts with The Dexter Company so this equipment can be put into service as quickly as possible to prevent interruption to, or disruption of, the City’s landscaping maintenance program, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Finance and Management be and is hereby authorized to establish contracts with and issue purchase orders to The Dexter Company for the purchase of (1) Tractor with a Rear and Flail Mowing Deck.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $181,848.38, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2266 (Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.