Despite questions, Port Everglades crane maintenance contract expected

Despite questions, Port Everglades crane maintenance contract expected    Broward County, Fla. commissioners are backing a no-bid contract renewal for the company that maintains cranes at Port Everglades, despite questions county auditors have about expenses filed over the last two years, the Sun-Sentinel newspaper reports.
   The county plans to approve a $9 million contract extension for G.F.S. Crane Consultants, whose current five-year, $20 million contract expires July 11.
   County officials said G.F.S. had been maintaining the cranes properly and that the county did not competitively bid the deal because the port initially considered taking over crane maintenance, then decided not to do so. By then, it was too late to go through a lengthy bidding process.
   G.F.S. president Gerald Charlton said any questions about expenses could be explained and strongly denied any wrongdoing related to expenses.