Sponsor: County Manager's Office
Title
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Contracts with Press Publications, Inc. and Medianews Group, Inc dba St. Paul Pioneer Press for 2022 Newspaper Publications
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Recommendation
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1. Award a contract to Press Publications, Inc., 4779 Bloom Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, as the designated Official Newspaper for the following Ramsey County publications:
• Official proceedings of the Board of Ramsey County Commissioners and all notices for the year 2022; the 2021 Financial Statement; and the Notice of Expiration of Redemption in the Vadnais Heights Press in the amount of $5.49 per column inch for the first insertion, and $5.49 for subsequent insertions.
• 2021 Financial Statement in the White Bear Press as the other newspaper of general circulation located in a different municipality in the County than the Official Newspaper, in the amount of $13.81 per column inch and $13.81 per column inch for subsequent insertions.
2. Authorize the Chair and the Chief Clerk to execute the contract with Press Publications, Inc.
3. Award a contract to Medianews Group, Inc dba St. Paul Pioneer Press, PO Box 64831, Saint Paul, MN 55164, as the designated Official Newspaper for publication of Ramsey County’s List of Real Estate Taxes Remaining Delinquent on the first day of January 2022 in the Pioneer Press in the amount of $6.30 per column inch and $6.30 per column inch for subsequent insertions.
4. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the contract with Medianews Group, Inc dba St. Paul Pioneer Press.
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Background and Rationale
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Annually, a competitive solicitation is released for official publication services required of Ramsey County for the subsequent year. Minnesota Statutes require various official publications of Ramsey County and define the requirements of official newspapers as indicated below:
Minnesota State Statutes Chapter 395 of the 1990 Legislature, which amends Minnesota Statute §331.A.02, Subd 1. Requirements for a Qualified Newspaper, and Minnesota Statute §331A.04 require the following:
• publication of a political subdivision’s public notices, including the official proceedings of the county board, in a qualified newspaper of general circulation in the county with its “known office of issue” within the political subdivision.
• the publisher must also do its typographic, composition, and presswork in Ramsey County.
• awarding of the contract is to be made at the county board’s first regular session each year.
Minnesota Statute §375.17 requires Ramsey County’s 2022 Financial Statement to be published in the newspaper designated by the Ramsey County Board as the Official Newspaper for such publication, and in a newspaper of general circulation located in a different municipality in the county than the Official Newspaper.
Minnesota Statute §§279.09-279.10 and 279.13 as amended requires publication in the newspaper designated annually by the Ramsey County Board the List of Real Estate Taxes Remaining Delinquent on the first day of January.
Minnesota Statute §281.23 as amended requires publication of the Notice of Expiration of Redemption for the County of Ramsey.
For the year 2022, two proposals were received in response to the Request for Bids. The awards are required to be given to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder - based on the lowest bid per publication type included in the solicitation, the awards being given to the two proposers:
• Press Publications, Inc., 4779 Bloom Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, designated as the Official Newspaper for the following Ramsey County publications:
o Official proceedings and other public notices; 2021 Financial Statement; and Notice of Expiration of Redemption in the Vadnais Heights Press in the amount of $5.49 per column inch for the first insertion, and $5.49 for subsequent insertions.
o 2021 Financial Statement in the White Bear Press as the other newspaper of general circulation located in a different municipality in the county than the Official Newspaper in the amount of $13.81 per column inch and $13.81 per column inch for subsequent insertions.
• Medianews Group, Inc dba St. Paul Pioneer Press, PO Box 64831, Saint Paul, MN 55164, designated as the Official Newspaper for the following Ramsey County publication:
o List of Real Estate Taxes Remaining Delinquent on the first day of January 2022 in the Pioneer Press in the amount of $6.30 per column inch and $6.30 per column inch for subsequent insertions.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Designation of an official newspaper to publish the official notices including the proceedings of the County Board, the county’s Financial Statements, and the List of Real Estate Taxes Remaining Delinquent is an annual organizational action. The decision is based on a competitive solicitation process and procurement policies requiring the award to go to the lowest responsible bidder. The decision has minimal direct impact on addressing racial equity.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Informing the community of this action provides transparency in the selection process, which is determined based on a competitive solicitation and procurement policies. The Official Newspaper provides transparency and information to the community, in the form of minutes and hearing notices, about the proceedings of the Ramsey County Board initiatives that are important to the community.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Funds are available in the 2022-23 budget.
County Manager Comments
No additional comments.
Last Previous Action
On January 5, 2021, per Resolution B2021-007, the Ramsey County Board awarded contracts to:
• Press Publications, Inc., 4779 Bloom Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, as the designated Official Newspaper for the following Ramsey County publications:
o Official proceedings of the Board of Ramsey County Commissioners and all notices for the year 2021 in the Vadnais Heights Press at a cost of $4.97 per column inch for the first insertion, and $4.97 for subsequent insertions.
o 2020 Financial Statement in the White Bear Press as the other newspaper of general circulation located in a different municipality in the County than the Official Newspaper, at a cost of $12.52 per column inch and $12.52 per column inch for subsequent insertions.
o List of Real Estate Taxes Remaining Delinquent on the first day of January 2021, in the Vadnais Heights Press at a cost of $5.09 per column inch for the first insertion, and $5.09 per column inch for subsequent insertions.
o Notice of Expiration of Redemption in the Vadnais Heights Press at a cost of $4.21 per column inch for the first insertion, and $4.21 per column inch for subsequent insertions.
• Northwest Publications, LLC, dba St. Paul Pioneer Press, PO Box 64831, Saint Paul, MN 55164, as the designated Official Newspaper for publication of Ramsey County’s 2020 Financial Statement in the Pioneer Press at a cost of $6.30 per column inch and $6.30 per column inch for subsequent insertions.
Attachments
1. Press Publication Procurement Contract
2. Ramsey County General Contract/Agreement Terms and Conditions - Press Publications
3. Pioneer Press Procurement Contract
4. Ramsey County General Contract/Agreement Terms and Conditions - Pioneer Press