Rumours about foreign foliage finding its way onto Mapleton soil may have spread like weeds, but they appear to be overblown.
Many township residents began to talk recently about the origin of the new planters and flowers in downtown Drayton, speculating that local companies were not offered a chance to supply them.
Township clerk Patty Sinnamon recently confirmed the planters were supplied by a Mount Forest company, but she told the Community News the rumours in the community are untrue.
“I personally invited several companies to respond to a formal request for proposal several months ago, including businesses located in [Mapleton], Minto, Wellington North and St. Jacobs,” Sinnamon said in an email.
“One Mapleton business indicated that they were not submitting a bid and we had no response from two others.”
In fact, she added, the only bid received was from the Mount Forest company. Yet the total cost for the planters was below the township’s $2,000 purchasing threshold in its purchasing and procurement policy, which Sinnamon said she followed.
“In fact, I was not required to do a formal RFP, just obtain quotes, but I wanted to make sure that I was asking for the same thing from each business,” she said.
Sinnamon added the township tries to support local businesses, but that is not always possible, and officials have to ensure bidding companies can deliver the product as requested by the municipality.
