White Bluffs Vet Clinic gets 5 year deal

White Bluffs Veterinary Clinic received a contract to provide impound and other animal services to the city of Sidney for a period of five years after bids were formally presented to the pubic and council members present.

Citing a conflict of interest, Mayor David Wiederspon turned the meeting over to Vice Mayor Dalan Hiatt, who presided over the final portion of the meeting. Two bids were received from White Bluffs, and Sidney Veterinary Hospital.

Comments from the public included a question Ibs Young, who inquired as to the amount of the contract and whether it was necessary to bid for that amount. city attorney Jordan Ball provided information answered her question that due to the fact the Mayor was a bidder in the process and for the protection of the public interest was being served, the process was bid in an open manner.

Young also told council about a policy she observed while affiliated with the school board many years before, how some services were rotated among vendors who charged a standard fee. Additional comments, including those from acting Police Chief Joe Aiken revealed that the two vet offices in Sidney had dissimilar holding facilities, with White Bluffs' location having four runs with exterior access and Sidney Veterinary Hospital having only one. Aiken said there could be times where more than one animal would need to be impounded and Dr. Cook and his staff live outside of town. Shelter considerations in inclement weather were also a concern.

With respect to rotating services, councilman Dalan Hiatt said that he would entertain such discussion at some point in the future.

 Council voted unanimously voted to award the contract to White Bluffs, which is owned by the Mayor for a period of five years commencing April 1st, 2010.