Board approves recommendation to award Big Sky High HVAC upgrade pending negotiation with Garden City Plumbing

The Missoula Elementary School Board of Trustees approved a recommendation to award the Big Sky High School HVAC upgrade, contingent on successful negotiation with Garden City Plumbing. The board voted unanimously on the recommendation.

Project manager (identified in the meeting as Mr. Mccauweli) said bids opened the day of the meeting; the recommended base bid is $36,200. There are three alternates the board likely will accept, which together bring the total project estimate to about $144,700, he said. The work covers replacement of cabinet heaters that were not completed during prior bond projects, controls upgrades in the administration wing, and replacement of aging cabinet heaters in girls’ locker rooms and weight rooms on the east side of the main gymnasium.

Trustee Hayes asked whether the new units would prevent smoke from entering the building; the presenter said the units are stand-alone and pull fresh air from the gymnasium into the locker rooms and would not improve smoke prevention beyond existing conditions. Vice Chair Walker Andrews asked for the dollar amounts, which were restated by the presenter. Vice Chair Garris asked about funding; the presenter said the work will be paid from permissive levy funding from last year and the prior year.

Trustee Wake moved to approve the recommendation; Vice Chair Garris seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The board did not provide a final contract award at the meeting; the approval was for the recommendation to proceed pending negotiation with the named contractor.