City will seek new bids for pool repairs
, Richmond News Staff
12-18-2009
Richmond officials will take their time finding a few good men who can help end some long-standing city pool issues.
The Richmond City Council declined accepting either a $13,500 bid from Higginsville firm Gash Plumbing or a $12,560 bid from Lawson firm Dolt Concrete and Construction. Instead, the city will re-open bids and revisit the issue, probably in early January.
“It’s gotten worse and worse to the point that we do not have working showers in the locker rooms,” said City Adminstrator Rick Childers, who said the city has $9,500 budgeted to make the repairs happen. He suggested awarding Dolt the bid but also stepping back, reassessing plans and trying to renegotiate the price. Childers recommended Dolt, while councilman Tom Williams backed awarding Gash the bid based on his personal experience and Gash’s specialization in commercial construction.
“I know Dolt does a great deal of residential construction,” Mayor Lance Green said. Community Development Director Lisa Hastings wasn’t certain Dolt was a licensed plumber.
Childers speculated the city could cut project costs by scaling back to three outdoor water fountains and three locker room showers, which he said would “still improve what we have, but stay within the budget.”
Councilman Jim Dunwoodie countered that having four showers installed at once could save more money still over funding another project later. There still remained a chance the city could ask Recreation Director Haley Morrissey to shift another $3,500-$4,000 in recreation funds to increase available project funds, Childers suggested.
Despite his initial motion to back Gash, Williams rescinded it amidst lingering unanswered budgetary questions.
“If Gash sees something he thinks can be trimmed off this bid that’s not going to compromise this job, is there something external we can add later?” Dunwoodie asked.
Councilman Jason Berning asked “We don’t know anything about them . . . Wouldn’t it make sense to ask these questions first?”
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