Hillsboro approves bid for new pool
Staff reporter
Hillsboro City Council approved a bid Sept. 14 for the much-anticipated family aquatic center.
Serving as the Public Building Commission, the governing body reviewed three bids for the project that were opened the previous day.
A low bid of $2,279,000 from Carrothers Construction of Paola, was approved with alterations.
The low bid was $126,000 more than projected which led the building commission to either accept the bid and make other concessions to the budget, or accept the bid with "value engineering" or cut costs.
Other bids were $2,290,300 and $2,375,000 from Hutton Construction and ORR, respectively.
Ken Miller, a representative of Burbach Aquatics, Inc., the company serving as the city's consultant for the project, said he would work with Carrothers Construction to reduce the cost by changing the initial bid specifications.
Mayor Delores Dalke expressed her concerns.
"(The low bid) does not allow a contingency or expansion of the project," Dalke said.
Lyle Larson, general foreman, and Mike Morrand, president of Carrothers Construction, asked for some guidelines to begin the process of changing specifications.
Dalke said entrance lighting in the parking lot could be eliminated and the structure of the pool building could be something other than wood.
However, Dalke made it clear she did not want to see any changes that would compromise or detract patrons from using the pool.
A pre-construction conference was held at 9 a.m. today (Wednesday).
Within the next 10 days, when project adjustments are completed to meet the city's budget, a change order and contract will be presented to the council for consideration.
When those documents are approved and signed, construction will begin.
Larson said he was concerned about the May 15 completion date being met with additional time being needed to adjust the project.
He was assured the council will act as promptly as possible to expedite the pre-construction process.
In a written statement from David Burbach, director of aquatic services of Burbach Aquatics, Inc., the consulting company has worked with Carrothers Construction before and said the company previously had utilized local suppliers and subcontractors when possible.
The references for all three bidders were favorable, said Miller.
In other business:
— The commission approved a resolution that will allow unauthorized vehicles to be towed if parked on the 100 block of West Grand, 100 and 200 blocks of East Grant, South Main, and North Main streets after 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday for Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Fair.
— Councilman Byron McCarty was elected vice chairman of the Public Building Commission.
— Steve Garrett, city administrator, reported he will attend a meeting with Kansas Power Pool.
— Garrett recently attended a seminar regarding relationships between governmental agencies and non-profit organizations and companies.
