Letter to the Editor

Not considered for quotes

Monday, September 3, 2012

To the Editor:

My name is Darin Hendricks and I am the owner of TJ Fencing Company in Center Point.

We are located right in the middle of Clay County for those of you who do not know where Center Point is. I'm sure you have seen our billboard on State Road 59, just north of Interstate-70, or maybe you have seen our ad on the Northview, North Clay and Clay City sports calendars.

It has recently come to my attention that the Clay Community School Board hired Double Bee Fence from Terre Haute to install the perimeter fencing around the new bus garage on Pinckley Street.

After doing some research, I understand that they were simply awarded the job without considering other companies or getting other quotes. In my opinion, this is unacceptable.

My home is located in Clay County's Sugar Ridge Township and my business is located in Sugar Ridge Township.

I also own other properties in Clay County. I pay Clay County property taxes on all of these locations. All of my employees are from Clay County and they pay property taxes in Clay County.

My children and my employee's children go, or will go, to Clay Community Schools.

From the standpoint of a taxpayer in the county, I am upset. It is disappointing to see how our tax dollars are spent. What is more disappointing is the fact that I, and my employees, are paying for a small portion of a fence project for which we were not even considered.

From the standpoint of a business owner, I would not have expected to have been awarded the job just because we are the only fence company located in Clay County, but I would have expected to have the opportunity to provide a quote.

I noticed in the minutes from the school board meeting May 17, 2012, that Mr. Reberger stated that Double Bee Fence were "Commercial Fence installers."

Most people in Clay County may recognize us as a residential fence installer. However, we have done and continue to do many commercial and industrial jobs each year.

We have done several Fed Ex Ground facilities, worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, State of Indiana, Terre Haute International Airport, City of Paris, Ill., DePauw University, Greencastle Schools, Cloverdale Schools, Eminence Schools, South Putnam Schools, South Montgomery Schools, Terre Haute Housing Authority, etc.

Our employees are all drug tested and are good people.

The simple fact is that we were not even considered for the installation. After mailing a similar letter to the Superintendent, Mr. Tom Reberger, and members of the school board, I received e-mail correspondence from Superintendent Tucker stating, "Please be advised that neither I nor my facilities and grounds director were familiar with your company as a commercial fencing installer. We chose to provide our specification to Double Bee Fencing because of their previous work with our schools and their reputation for quality product and service. The amount that was estimated for the project fell well below the amount in policy requiring us to seek quotes. I can understand your frustration in not being considered. Hopefully, we will be able to work with you in future projects."

This, in my opinion, is a slap in the face.

There was no hesitation about calling TJ Fencing to advertise on the sports calendars to support Clay Community Schools. In our ad, it states, "For all your fencing needs."

But when it came to providing a service, we were not even considered.

Sincerely,

Darin Hendricks,

TJ Fencing Company,

Center Point