- May 23, 2025
As Ormond Beach begins its standard rebidding process for city employee health insurance, some City Commissioners are encouraging staff to look at local businesses and review all the options.
Commissioner Travis Sargent said language in the limits who can bid, based on the minimum qualifications, could exclude large brokerage firms.
“I think we should look at every option that’s available in the employee benefits marketplace,” he said.
Commissioners Sargent and Lori Tolland both recused themselves from voting on the item, citing conflicts of interest — Sargent said he works for a company that could potentially bid on the proposal request, as did Tolland’s son.
One issue Sargent had was perhaps limiting the city’s search to those companies with high-deductible policies, but Assistant City Manager Claire Whitley said that the RFP doesn’t exclude different kinds of policies outside of that with a high deductible. Instead, the RFP just asks for those with experience in that area.
Sargent, and Commissioner Kristin Deaton, also felt it was important to give preference to local companies. Deaton requested that the phrase “geographic” — used several times in the RFP to reference a company’s experience working with municipalities of a similar size and geographic area — be changed to be “Florida municipalities.”
“I would like to see the fair and most competitive options,” Deaton said. “The best options for Ormond Beach, the most competitive and the best coverage, of course.”
Sargent suggested preference be given to Volusia County businesses.
“Maybe we do put a provision in there for local preference,” he said. “At the end of the day this is about getting the best product for our taxpayer money.”
Attorney Randy Hayes said Ormond Beach does not have an ordinance that allows for local preference for RFPs, just for the bidding process. It could make Deaton’s requested change from “geographic” to “Florida” but could not list a preference for Volusia County firms.
The requirement to be under the same brokerage name for a certain number of years could also oust some local firms from consideration, Sargent said, pointing out that some brokerages have been bought out. Staff agreed to change the language in the requirements to just be a minimum of five years of experience, down from 10 and eliminating the requirement to be under the same name.
The commission approved the bid 3-0, with Tolland and Sargent abstaining. The RFP was set to go out to bid on April 20.
During the meeting, the commission also approved two projects to repair sidewalks in Ormond Beach. The two projects are funded from the Community Development Block Grant.
One of the projects is to replace the 4-foot, north-side sidewalks on Division Avenue with ADA-compliant, 5-foot wide sidewalks. The project totals $40,305.75.
The second approved project is for Military Boulevard, where the sidewalks — also non-compliant with ADA requirements — will be replaced with five-foot wide sidewalks. The sections of Military Boulevard that do not have continuous sidewalks will have sidewalks added to “provide a continuous sidewalk connection,” according to meeting documents.
Both projects will also add ADA-compliant detectable mats and curbing.
