Heath council awards Hubbard Drive Phase 4 contract to Apple Pavement Services

The Heath City Council unanimously voted Nov. 5 to award the Hubbard Drive Phase 4 roadway-improvement contract to Apple Pavement Services and authorized the city manager to execute the construction agreement. Staff said the apparent low bids came in well below earlier cost estimates and the project will be paid from roadway impact fees, water impact fees, developer fees and remaining proceeds.

Mr. Creed, a staff member, told the council that 11 bids were received Oct. 30 and that "Apple Pavement Services came in with the low bid." He said the engineers recommended awarding the alternate bid and listed the funding sources in the meeting packet.

Matt Atkins, an engineer with TMP (the city's contracted engineering firm), told the council TMP vetted the low bidder and that the contractor is performing on other municipal projects TMP supervises. "We did vet out the low bid contractor," Atkins said. TMP confirmed the firm recommended award as part of its contracted services to bid and review the project.

Council members noted the bids came in lower than the city had anticipated. "As you recall, we were anticipating around 7 and a half, $7,700,000 project, and it's coming at 5,500,000.0," Mr. Creed said during the discussion, indicating the council's prior estimate and the lower bid results. The exact dollar amount listed in the meeting motion was not clearly legible in the audio transcript; the packet and contract documents should be consulted for the precise award amount.

Councilman Holmby moved to award the project to Apple Pavement Services for the alternate bid; Councilwoman Thoroughgood seconded the motion. The council voted "aye" and the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said the council should expect a return agenda item related to change-order cleanup for earlier phases of the Hubbard Drive project.