Mercedes commission approves preventive AC maintenance contract for dome, city hall and fire department

The Mercedes City Commission voted June 2 to approve a preventive maintenance agreement for air-conditioning units at the dome and to expand the vendor's services to city hall and the fire department.

City officials said the company currently services the dome and the proposed contract would formalize and extend that relationship to additional municipal buildings. When asked whether the arrangement was a one-year contract or month-to-month, the vendor representative confirmed it is a contract and said the firm had previously serviced the dome "for the year prior" and that the city wanted to extend their scope to other facilities.

"This is a contract and we currently have them servicing the dome center," the vendor representative said, describing the firm’s familiarity with the dome's specialized units and the rationale for keeping a provider experienced with that equipment.

Commissioner Joe Martinez moved to approve the contract and Commissioner Armando Garcia seconded. The mayor called for the vote and all present voted in favor; the motion carried.

The commission did not discuss a competing bid during that discussion; commissioners indicated the vendor's specialized knowledge of the dome units informed the recommendation to extend and expand the contract.