BRIDGETON, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
The Bridgeton, Missouri, mayor cast the tie-breaking vote Wednesday night to award a controversial contract for the electrical work at the new Bridgeton Government Center being built on Natural Bridge Road. Several hundred union members with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, or IBEW Local 1, turned out to support Bell Electric, a company with strong union ties.
Bell was competing for the job with Crown Electrical Contracting, Incorporated, a company with a smaller union presence. Crown's bid was more than $80,000 less than Bell's.
When the bids were revealed several weeks ago, the Bridgeton City Council voted down Crown and brought Bell into the competition.
Debate had been ongoing since then. The issue culminated Wednesday night.
Before he cast the deciding vote to break the 4-4 tie, Mayor Conrad Bowers told the crowd that Crown had done work for the City of Bridgeton before without any serious problems and he respected the process of accepting the low bid.
Bell was competing for the job with Crown Electrical Contracting, Incorporated, a company with a smaller union presence. Crown's bid was more than $80,000 less than Bell's.
When the bids were revealed several weeks ago, the Bridgeton City Council voted down Crown and brought Bell into the competition.
Debate had been ongoing since then. The issue culminated Wednesday night.
Before he cast the deciding vote to break the 4-4 tie, Mayor Conrad Bowers told the crowd that Crown had done work for the City of Bridgeton before without any serious problems and he respected the process of accepting the low bid.
