Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fort Pierce commission approves $390,648 sewer work at Little Gym property; commissioner recuses from vote
Summary
The commission approved a $390,648.22 contract for sanitary sewer improvements to a city-owned parcel used by Little Gym. Commissioners debated use of federal funds, environmental concerns and oversight; one commissioner recused for a perceived conflict.
The Fort Pierce City Commission voted April 7 to award a construction contract to RK Contractors Inc. not to exceed $390,648.22 to install sanitary sewer improvements serving the Little Gym property, a city-owned parcel whose operations have been the subject of prior commission debate.
Commissioner Price announced a perceived conflict and recused himself from the discussion and the vote. Commissioners discussed project scope, environmental risks, funding and oversight before approving the award. Commissioner Broderick moved approval and the motion passed on roll call with Commissioner Taylor recorded as abstaining; other commissioners voted yes.
Commissioner Broderick and others said the $390,648.22 expenditure demands public explanation because the property is city-owned but is operated as a private enterprise; Broderick said the public should understand the city’s financial commitment to a site that will likely remain privately operated. “We’re now being asked to expend close to $400,000 in essence to continue the operation of a private enterprise,” Broderick said.
Commissioner Gaines said the city’s primary duty is to the asset and to protecting the adjacent waterway. “As the owner of that property, we have a duty to make sure that this sewer line is right and protect that waterway,” Gaines said, while stressing she was “not happy” with the price but would vote to proceed to avoid environmental risks.
City staff told the commission the funds are currently earmarked from federal Build Back Better or similar federal recovery/ARPA-related funds and are encumbered for this project; staff said the project remains within the federal program deadlines and will be reimbursable under those grants.
Engineering staff said the project has two bids and the low bidder’s price was substantially less than the other bid; the contract includes a 60-day completion timeline. Commissioners requested staff to pursue any available grant opportunities in addition to using the earmarked federal funds. The commission also discussed the importance of strong project management to avoid costly change orders while the project is underway.
The motion to approve authorizes city staff to execute a construction contract with RK Contractors Inc. in an amount not to exceed $390,648.22, with the City’s engineering department assigned to manage the work and to return to the commission if substantial changes are needed.
Vote: roll-call approval with one recusal and one abstention.
