Will Greenwood Mayor Side with Free Market Bids?

In today’s SWTR, 7/21/12, the article, ”Greenwood Mayor Picks Trash Hauler”, says he has made his decision, but was wanting to confer with the city attorney to make sure what he has done is legal.  Why would the competitive bidding process be an issue to involve an attorneys opinion?  If performance specifications are met, wouldn’t one think the lowest of the competitive bidding would win?   This process is the result of originally having 4 companies bid and now apparently between two of those companies.  The article stated Altes had the lower bid of $10.65 per home, while MSG was $11.60.  Regardless of the outcome, if we as a nation are going to continue being the example and the leader of “free markets”, then we must truly act as the example and the leader of the free markets.  That doesn’t stop with only allowing,  promoting and encouraging the private sector, but to also abide by the results of the free market and competitive bids regardless close relationships.  When a city government allows anything less than a free, competitive market, we all began to lose.