Board approves local pest-control vendor after debate over small price difference

The St. Joseph School Board voted to award the district’s integrated pest‑control contract to a local provider, Preferred Pest Control, after hearing public comment and staff explanation of board purchasing policy.

The decision came after a local business owner, Perry Cooperrider of Preferred Pest Control, asked the board to reconsider an out‑of‑state recommendation. Cooperrider said the out‑of‑state bid was only about $1,300 lower and described local benefits his company provides, including employing district families, donating space for school events and offering a standing staff discount. “As a family and locally owned company, we can quickly adapt the newest pest control technologies… We show up,” Cooperrider told the board.

Casey, a district staff member who presented the procurement background, walked the board through policy DGA/DJF AP‑1, which permits choosing a local vendor when the local proposal is within a $1,000 difference of the lowest bid. He recommended keeping the policy but proposed changing the threshold from $1,000 to 5 percent of the bid amount in a future update, arguing $1,000 is too small on large contracts. “You as a board can make a vote to hire the local company. You just need to document why you hired the company that was not the lowest bid,” Casey said.

Board members who spoke during the discussion stressed the value of local relationships and non‑price benefits. One board member noted donated meeting space and quick local service when weighing the small dollar difference. A motion to approve the local company passed on a recorded vote; board members voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.

The board approved the contract under a documented exception to the low‑bid recommendation. Staff said they will also bring an administrative policy amendment to update the local‑vendor threshold to a percentage basis in coming weeks.

The vote resolves this procurement for the coming contract period; the district’s purchasing office will document the rationale in the procurement file and proceed with contracting. The board’s approval does not change the underlying bid amounts or the district’s stated commitment to competitive bidding.

Next steps include staff updating the administrative policy language Casey referenced and documenting the board’s deviation from the low‑bid recommendation.