FORT PIERCE – Fort Pierce city commissioners called it “embarrassing and unacceptable” to approve $63,347 for the Marina Square holiday light display nearly a year after the last contract had expired and without competitive bids.
Less than a month after the commission ordered new municipal purchasing rules to “tighten up” taxpayer-funded procurement practices, commissioners learned that a Royal Palm Beach lighting firm had already performed work and submitted a bill that was 15 percent more than they had charged in 2024.
Under city policy, purchases of goods and services with a certain dollar value are supposed to be awarded after competitive bidding. However, this bill for materials, installation, seasonal maintenance and takedown never had a bidding process or contract award before 2025 work was done…