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Friday, 19 December 2008 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Construction contracts were awarded for a planned Wapakoneta Elementary School this week despite questions raised about two of the contractors.
By an unanimous, 4-0 vote, with board member Pat Gibson absent, board members this week approved contracts for casework, roofing, geothermal, plumbing, fire protection, electrical and site work.
Board member Willie Sammetinger asked that two contracts be pulled into resolutions to be voted on separately. He voted in opposition to a contract for general trades-masonry with Charles Construction Services for more than $8.1 million and a contract for Heating Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC) with JMC Mechanical for more than $2.8 million.
Both contracts passed by the board 3-1.
Other contracts approved included electrical with Koester Electric for more than $1.5 million, roofing with Kelley Brothers Roofing for $940,000, plumbing with Slagle Mechanical Contractors for $850,000, geothermal with Middleton Geothermal Services for more than $650,000, casework with Farnham Equipment Company for $438,000, site work with Milligan Construction Company for $383,000, and fire protection with Vulcan Fire Protection for more than $178,000.
After site visits to other facilities, board members had questions about the quality of work of a subcontractor with Charles Construction and prior to approving the contract met with both the contractor and subcontractor to discuss those concerns, Superintendent Keith Horner said.
The superintendent said extra steps are expected to be built into the process to assure quality workmanship.
“We have worked with the construction manager, architect and counsel to put in a layer of control to monitor the situation,” Horner said.
Horner said another bidder raised concerns about the HVAC contract.
“Our reaction was to rely upon our construction counsel and construction management,” Horner said. “We decided to accept the low bidder.
“We are bound to the low bidder in this process,” he said. “While there are methods to reject the low bidder, it doesn’t come without risks.”
All contracts have to be approved by the Ohio School Facilities Commission as part of the process, adding another security measure, Horner said.
“We’re confident we can continue to move forward and ensure we have a good quality building,” Horner said. “We have many, many, many meetings to ensure quality of work and the construction manager, Gilbane, is on site.”
Also approved were a project schedule, detailed estimate of construction costs and design development documents related to renovations and additions to Wapakoneta High School. Total cost for the project is estimated at more than $19 million.
An American Electric Power (AEP) easement was approved by board members.
Board member Ron Mertz said everything looks in order for the easement and it doesn’t seem to pose a problem.
A special board meeting originally planned before the end of the year has been postponed as the architects aren’t ready for approval of the Wapakoneta Middle School construction document and bid authorization, Treasurer Susan Rinehart said. She said that will be moved to the regular board meeting Jan. 27.
The same documents for Wapakoneta High School are planned for approval and bid authorization on Feb. 24.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 22 December 2008 )
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