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Norwich Township and Hilliard approve lease and contracts for $9.4 million joint safety building after rebid
Summary
Trustees approved a lease with the City of Hilliard and awarded construction contracts after bids exceeded estimates. Work has begun on footings and utilities; trustees also authorized cost-saving electrical changes and a part-time construction manager to oversee the project.
Norwich Township trustees ratified a lease with the City of Hilliard and, after reviewing higher-than-expected bids, awarded construction contracts for a joint safety services building with a total base bid of $9,434,725 and accepted several alternates, the board recorded in September 2007. Larry Earman, chairman of the Norwich Township Board of Trustees, said the move formalized the township’s share of costs and allowed construction to proceed.
The project—planned to combine township fire facilities and city police space—was bid in August. Meacham & Apel’s bid report showed initial bids substantially above the architect’s estimate; the trustees reviewed potential savings (notably a set of electrical scope changes) and elected to rebid with those changes rather than accept the first higher totals. Jim Mitchell of Meacham & Apel summarized that masonry, steel and copper-price volatility contributed to the overrun and presented a list of change items for trustee consideration.
After the rebid, the board identified Altman Construction as the lowest responsive general contractor and selected Radico, Inc.; TP Mechanical; Dalmatian Fire; and Converse Electric for major trades. The trustees authorized a part-time construction manager to support day-to-day oversight and directed staff to establish project escrow accounts and notices to proceed. The board also ratified a lease agreement with the City of Hilliard governing a 30-year repayment arrangement and the City’s contribution to project costs.
Construction mobilization followed: site excavation, basement footings and setting of structural steel were recorded by fall 2007, and the township scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for Oct. 10, 2007. Project managers and trustees remained focused on controlling further cost escalation and confirming lease and insurance arrangements.
The board’s actions included formal votes and contract awards recorded Sept. 25, 2007. Next procedural steps noted in the minutes were contractor mobilization, monitoring of change orders within delegated thresholds, and finalization of the City lease terms. The trustees recorded a public pre-bid conference and bid openings that were open to the public and kept the community informed through published meeting minutes.
