The Niles City Council made the correct decision this week when it hired a Niles company to complete a pair of road projects this summer instead of a company from South Bend, Indiana.

The Niles company — Northern Construction Services Corp. — turned in the second lowest bid for both projects.

The South Bend company — Walsh and Kelly — submitted the lowest bid for both.

Normally, municipalities accept the lowest bidder because it will cost the city — and taxpayers — the least amount of money to complete a given project.

This approach makes the most sense and, in many circumstances, it would be the most responsible way from a city to proceed.

However, in this case NCSC’s bid was a total of about $5,700 over the bid from Walsh and Kelly.

Considering the cost for both projects was around $225,000, the $5,700 is a rather small amount.

The council was more than justified in voting unanimously to contract with the local company.

Not only are we helping our neighbors when we “shop local,” we are also keeping our tax dollars circulating within the community.

There’s a better chance that the employees of a Niles-based business will be spending their money in Niles as opposed to the employees of a company from out of town, or out of state even.

We applaud city council members for looking past the bottom line and seeing it for what it truly is: a smart investment in the future of the city and its businesses. We hope they will continue this practice, when warranted, and that others will follow their example.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Craig Haupert, Ambrosia Neldon, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.