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By REX RICHARDSON Journal - News Writer A decision is expected in two weeks in a court action brought by White Bus Lines of Oxford against the Hamilton Board of Education. Judge Fred B. Cramer took the matter under advisement Wednesday after hearing testimony by City Manager Edward C. Smith, board clerk Harold Flowers and David White, president of the bus lines. White Lines, 118 E. High St., Oxford, seeks a preliminary injunction to prevent the board from contracting the Hamilton County School Bus Service, Inc., 3544 Springdale Road, to transport school children beginning in Septem ber. White contends he was denied a fair chance to bid on the service and that there was collusion between the Board and Hamilton County Service for the contract. White is represented by Hamilton attorney David M. Green. Sam Spoerl, Hamilton law director, represents the defen dants. “I have bids ready now to submit to both the board and the city,’’ White said. Hamilton County Service, operated by Victor Lahmann, was awarded the contract at the June 20 Board of Education meeting with a bid of $35 per student, $10 less than the Hamilton City Lines estimate. HCL, operated by the St. John Transportation Co. of Dayton, provided the service last year. White indicated his bid is $33, making him low bidder. Flowers testified that he fir st met White May 8 at the Board. Flowers added that he presented White with a general outline of the desired goals of pupil transportation. White testified that he requested a fact sheet necessary for presenting a bid, but that Flowers said it was being compiled and that White would be notified when it became available. White said he telephoned Flowers and talked with him at least two to three times per week following their initial meeting, and that each time Flowers indicated the fact sheet was still not available. Flowers denied he had any conversation with White until June 16 when White telephoned him at home. White said Flowers told him that repeated attempts had been made by telephone to contact the Oxford office bet ween June 9 and June 13, the arbitrary bidding period established by Flowers, and that no one answered the phone. Flowers added that the “matter was a closed issue,” White testified. White Lines’ listed telephone number had been changed about March 1, White said. White added that his new number was listed at the top of the letter mailed March 15 to the Board announcing his interest. Flowers agreed, but said he didn’t bother to check it. Lahmann, whose prime business involves bus sales instead of contract service, told White the day before the June 20 board meeting it would be possible for White to purchase the buses from him if the board would approve such a deal, White testified. White, whose company con sists of 27 buses, has never operated a school bus service, and admitted it would be impossible for anyone except Lahmann to provide new school buses for September. The contract would total about $200,000. Lahmann a week ago assumed operation of the city bus system after St. John announced it would halt service because Hamilton had not increased the bus subsidy.
Newspaper Details
Hamilton Journal News
Hamilton, Ohio, US
Thu, Jul 13, 1972
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Delisa F.
USA 21 Jun 2026
Other Publications Near Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton Evening Democrat
Hamilton Daily Democrat
Hamilton Weekly Hamilton Telegraph
Daily Telegraph
Hamilton Guidon
