A split Black River Falls City Council opted to spend about $17,000 more on a front end loader despite a bid for the machine coming in lower.

The council voted 4-3 at its Nov. 20 meeting to reject the lowest of five bids for the loader and went with the second-lowest cost. Swiderski Equipment in Waupaca had the low bid of $89,052 while the next lowest was $105,800 from St. Joseph Equipment out of La Crosse.

Superintendent of Public Works Todd Gomer said the issue was quality when it came between Swiderski’s New Holland 130B model and St. Joseph’s Case 621E,

“I feel this low bid is not the machine I want for 10 years for the city street department,” Gomer said.

However, Mark Wisinski, vice president and general manager at Swiderski’s Waupaca location, said the New Holland and Case machines are nearly identical machines. He said both have the same parts and are built at the same plant. With the exception of some cosmetics, Wisinski said the New Holland and Case loaders are the same.

“They are about as close to an apple-to-apple comparison you can get,” Wisinski said. “They are identical twins except one of them is yellow and one of them is orange.

“Everything is exactly the same except the price.”

Wisinski said Swiderski’s quote for the loader was much lower than other companies because Swiderski wanted to give the city the best price.

“We didn’t want to take advantage of you and overcharge you,” Wisinski said.

Gomer, though, said he was still uncomfortable with the New Holland loader based on research he did, and street department employees felt the same.

“They may be built at the same plant, but they’re different machines,” he said.

The council was divided on whether to go with the low bid or go with Gomer’s recommendation. Alderperson Don Mathews noted that both bids met the specifications set forth in the request asked for in early October and said not going with the lowest bid might set a precedent.

“What does this do to our bidding integrity for the city?” Mathews asked.

Alderperson Charlene Onstad said she wanted to go with the low bid but felt it was important to consider the advice of those running city departments.

“I want to take the low bid; I also feel the people who are using this machine (need to be) comfortable,” she said.

Although there was some discussion on delaying the decision to gather more information, Gomer implored the council to either make a decision or throw the bids out. Council members Bradley Rahmlow, David Johnson, Shirley Austin and Onstad voted in favor of going with the second-lowest loader bid while council members Randy Eddy, Jay Eddy and Mathews voted against it. Alderperson Pete Olson was not present at the meeting.

Wisinski said he was disappointed with the council’s decision and asked the city not request bids if it already knows what dealer or brand name it wants.

“In the future— I don’t know if you can do this — if you want a Case machine, then just bid for a Case machine,” he said.

City Clerk Bill Arndt said the city was not required to bid for the loader like it is for other purchases or projects, like a street project.

Prior to discussion on the loader, the council approved a $16,778 pickup truck purchase for the street department.