Waukesha Board of Public Works awards library and retaining-wall contracts, delays Les Paul center bid

Waukesha City’s Board of Public Works on June 19 approved routine payments, awarded two public works contracts and voted to postpone action on a rebid for the Les Paul Performance Center improvements.

The board voted to award the library HVAC improvements contract to Lee Mechanical Inc. for $394,621 and to award the Horab Springs retaining wall reconstruction contract to Always Contractors for $488,906. The board also voted to put the Les Paul Performance Center Improvements rebid on hold until staff can study alternative exterior finishing options and pursue potential fundraising. All recorded board votes at the meeting were unanimous among members voting.

The library HVAC award was presented as part of bids opened June 13. Board members were told the project replaces air-handling unit controllers and updates the control system; staff said the work addresses aging controls for which parts are no longer available. A board member asked whether the award would “put the capstone on HVAC for the library,” and PRF/facilities staff responded that several zones remain and that the project replaces individual controllers and the central control system.

Board discussion noted wide variance among the three bidders’ line-item pricing. PRF staff explained that some contractors…