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Milwaukee’s bid preference questioned

Published: July 21, 2011
Tags: Ashanti Hamilton, bid preference, Grant Langley, Jim Bohl, Kathryn Block, local preference, Richard Wanta, Robin Vos, Scott Maly, Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association

A Milwaukee lobbyist is accusing the city of violating the spirit of a new state law that bans local bid preferences.

Local preference alive in Milwaukee market

Published: July 20, 2011
Tags: Ashanti Hamilton, bid preference, Jim Bohl, Joe Dudzik, Kathy Block, LBE, local preference, Milwaukee, Rhonda Kelsey

Milwaukee officials plan to continue enforcing local bid preferences on some contracts despite a new state law that bans the policy.

Milwaukee’s bid preference law ends

Published: July 11, 2011
Tags: Boullion, budget, DPW, Emerging Business Enterprise Program, Jim Boullion, Kathryn Block, local preference, MJ Construction, Residents Preference Program, Scott Maly, United Sewer & Water, Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association, WUCA

By James Briggs The Milwaukee attorney’s office Monday reported the state budget bill had rendered unenforceable a two-year-old local bid preference ordinance. The budget, which passed in June, includes language mandating that “except when necessary to secure federal aid, a political subdivision may not use a bidding method that gives preference based on the geographic [...]

Pipe dream? Milwaukee considers steps to insure future

Published: July 6, 2011
Tags: Joe Davis, local preference, Michael Murphy, Milwaukee Common Council, Robert Bauman, Service Line Warranty Program, Tom Barrett, Utility Service Partners, Willie Wade

By James Briggs Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is considering whether to grant market dominance to a private insurance company in exchange for a portion of profit. An agreement approved Wednesday by the Milwaukee Common Council would let Utility Service Partners Inc., a Pennsylvania-based utility insurance company, solicit city residents via direct mail, which would include [...]

State budget threatens local contracting laws

Published: June 27, 2011
Tags: Ashanti Hamilton, budget, Dick Wanta, Fabishak, local preference, MORE Ordinance, prevailing wage, Scott Walker, Tom Miller, Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association, WUCA
Comments: 1

By James Briggs The 2011-13 state budget has cast uncertainty over Milwaukee ordinances that subject some public works projects to prevailing wage and geographical bid preference requirements. The budget, signed into law Sunday by Gov. Scott Walker, includes language that “prohibits local governments from administering current ordinances with prevailing wage provisions” and also mandates that [...]

State budget targets Milwaukee prevailing wage, local preference laws

Published: June 24, 2011
Tags: Ashanti Hamilton, budget, local preference, prevailing wage, Scott Walker, Tom Barrett

When Gov. Scott Walker signs the 2011-13 state budget into law Sunday in Green Bay, it may contain a repeal of Milwaukee’s law requiring prevailing wages on private projects that get financial support from the city. Milwaukee officials on Friday asked Walker to veto a portion of the budget that eliminates the prevailing wage law, [...]

Local preference law faces fresh challengers

Published: December 30, 2010
Tags: ABC, Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin, Briant, Clean Water Construction Coalition, local preference, Mielke, Milwaukee, MJ Construction, ordinance, Rawson Contractors, Tomasini, Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association, WUCA, Zielinski

By Marie Rohde A Milwaukee law favoring city-based contractors is among the targets of state and national construction associations trying to ban local preference ordinances. “If the idea catches on and spreads, you’ll have islands where only a few contractors can bid,” said John Mielke, vice president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin. [...]

Contractor defends winning local preference award

Published: August 13, 2010
Tags: D.C. Burbach Inc., local preference, Snorek Construction Inc., Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association, Zenith Tech Inc.

Jim Snorek says fellow contractors should be taking aim at the city of Milwaukee, not him, in their dispute over the ordinance that gives 5 percent bid preferences to city-based companies.

Milwaukee slams door on bid preference appeal

Published: August 11, 2010
Tags: Contract Appeals Committee, D.C. Burbach, local preference, Milwaukee Department of Public Works, Snorek Construction, Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association, WUCA, Zenith Tech

By Marie Rohde Milwaukee has rejected at least one contractor’s request to appeal a project award based on an ordinance that gives 5 percent bid preferences to city-based companies. D.C. Burbach Inc., Waukesha, protested Aug. 6 after losing a bid for paving work on North 66th Street between Capitol Drive and Congress Street. Burbach submitted [...]