Cole County awards $2.62 million contract for shop expansion amid funding adjustments

Cole County commissioners voted on July 1 to award a $2.62 million base-bid contract for an expansion of the county maintenance shop, following staff's presentation of bid results and funding options. The commission approved the award by voice vote.

The county's public-works staff reported that seven bids were opened on June 17; the low base bid recorded in the meeting transcript was $2,620,000. Staff said bid alternates for unsuitable materials were priced per cubic yard and that the low bidder proposed a 320-calendar-day contract with liquidated damages of $500 per day for delays beyond that term. A $50,000 contingency allowance was included in the project budget.

"We strongly recommend award to Verso Construction for this project in the base bid amount of $2,620,000," the Public Works director told the commission, describing possible value-engineering options that could cut roughly $50,000'$55,000 if the commission chose to pursue them. Staff outlined substitution possibilities such as standard-color panels instead of premium colors, galvanized wash-bay components, and aluminum feeders in place of copper for certain electrical work.

On financing, county staff recommended using $1.65 million from the 0.806 sales-tax fund, $500,000 from the road-and-bridge contingency, and a recent insurance settlement of $446,000 from a fuel-spill claim to help close the gap to the bid amount. Staff estimated the contractor would begin work about three weeks after contract execution and that steel lead times and erection could put the building under roof by the end of the year, with interior finishing into spring and a likely ribbon-cutting around May of next year.

The commission then moved and seconded a motion to award the base bid at $2.62 million; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Transcript note: the staff presenter recommended awarding to "Verso Construction" (also transcribed once as "Versoce"). During the formal motion recorded in the transcript, the motion language names "SL Construction Company" for the award; the commission approved the motion as recorded. The transcript therefore shows an inconsistency between the recommended contractor name and the contractor named in the motion; the commission vote recorded in the meeting was to award at the $2.62 million base amount as moved on the record.

The director said the project would temporarily displace some shop operations; staff outlined plans to shift some work to a nearby building and to use temporary outdoor cover where needed. Commissioners voiced general support for moving ahead and emphasized keeping contingency and schedule under review.