Courthouse repair job awarded to second lowest bidder
A Fort Scott firm will be doing repointing and repair work this spring on the exterior of the Marion County Courthouse.
County commissioners awarded the project to Mid-Continental Restoration Co., Tuesday based upon the recommendation of Dan Hall, architect with BG Consultants, Manhattan.
"You need to look at two things," Hall told commissioners during a phone conversation. "The low bidder who has the lowest dollar amount, and the experience of the company.
"Mid-Continental is a known quantity and has been in business at it over 50 years," Hall said during a phone conversation with commissioners.
After discussion, the commission awarded the bid to Mid-Continental, which had the second lowest of the seven bids submitted. The company bid $59,892, with a completion time of 60 days.
The low bid of $50,856 was submitted by M.S. Restoration, North Kansas City, Mo. However, Commissioner Leroy Wetta expressed concern with the history of that company's general manager. He noted the individual previously owned his own business, but now was serving as general manager of another. He questioned whether that was due to a business re-organization, bankruptcy, lawsuit, or other situation.
Commissioners Howard Collett and Bob Hein said the man's references and resumé indicated he was qualified to do the job, and noted his bid was $9,000 less.
Wetta noted Hall's written recommendation seemed to indicate a preference to the second lowest bidder and said he would like to talk to the architect before making a decision.
During the phone conversation, Hall said he had asked the man about the same concerns Wetta had addressed, but never really obtained an answer.
"If both people bid the same job, we have to assume both can do the work," Hall said. "But there can be a difference in the quality of work and experience, especially when you're dealing with a project like this."
The commission then voted to accept the bid from Mid-Continental, based on the company's experience. The commission is not required to accept the low bid. The commission's decision will then be sent to the Heritage Trust, which is providing grant monies to help fund the repair.
Work will include removal of black debris and mold, repair of missing and deteriorating mortar joints, removal of old Christmas light fasteners and replacement with a stainless steel product, and repair of stairway areas that have deteriorated.
In other matters:
— Commissioners approved three resolutions forwarded by the county planning commission including two agriculture to rural residential changes, and a conditional use permit.
— Commissioners and David Brazil, sanitarian, planning and zoning, and transfer station manager, discussed which budget fund will be used to pay the salary for the new position of transfer station/sanitation assistant.
They discussed using the transfer station's capital outlay fund, but Brazil noted that would not leave much money for painting that planned to be done later in the year.
— Brazil said the county had received income off its C&D (commercial and demolition) waste. Also, the county had shipped off a load of white goods last week and received $10 per ton for scrap iron.
— Bill Smithhart, noxious weed director and hazardous household waste director, showed commissioners pictures of the county's gutter spray rig. He also reported Farm Bureau had collected 2,300 pounds of farm chemicals collected during its "Clean Sweep."
Based on Smithhart's recommendation, the commission voted to increase the amount the county charges for spraying from $3 to $3.50 per acre with a $50 minimum charge.
Smithhart said private application services were charging up to $4.80 per acre. He noted the county has a cost share program for the chemicals used. However, individuals who do nothing to control noxious weed problems are charged the full price.
— Commissioners approved a bid from High Plains Sand to purchase 6,000 tons of cold patch mix at a price of $14.28 per ton. If the county uses its own skid loader to stockpile the material it will cost $85,200, according to the bid.
The other bid received came from Brown and Brown who bid $91,080 or a price of $15.18 per ton. Road and Bridge Superintendent Gerald Kelsey noted concerns with situations which have occurred in the past.
Commissioners signed a permit allowing right of way use for a road crossing; They also signed a permit for Flint Hills REC for a new home located northwest of Peabody. Commissioners declined to place a plaque naming the current county commission on a new bridge constructed on the Aulne Road.
