According to Parks and Recreation Director, Jack Wardell, the city of Carroll has been working on plans for construction of a new cemetery maintenance building for the past eight years. Early this month, they had finally gotten the project moved along to the point of letting bids, with four received that ranged from nearly $354,000 to a little over $593,000. Wardell said the lowest bid, from Lejas Corporation of Tempe, Ariz. did not meet the specifications detailed and their bid was rejected. Wardell told city council members that with the bids exceeding the budget of $486,165, the council would now be looking at total design and construction estimated costs of $635,000. Council members Clay Haley and Mike Kots questioned whether this change is acceptable.
Brandon Vonnahme said if they broke it apart, the contingency could get a little smaller, but the engineering and professional services as well as furnishings are going to be basically the same. He said they are really looking at whether or not the council is comfortable with the $514,000 number.
Misty Boes asked if they would have the ability to review their options and possibly put it back out to bid.
Carolynn Siemann said she believed they would just be kicking the project down the road and would likely end up with higher costs yet. Mayor Eric Jensen and Wardell pointed out that the lowest bid received on the building, made by Badding Construction of Carroll, at $514,900 was still lower than the engineer’s estimate of cost at $534,890 and that the budget was low because the city created it before the project went to the engineer. With the project so far into the process already, even though the majority of council members did not like the cost, they awarded the job to Badding Construction with a vote of four in favor and one, Boes, against. The 2,400 square foot metal building will house a garage/work area, an office, a breakroom, a restroom and a three-sided enclosed area for dirt storage and will be located on the south end of the Carroll City Cemetery property with access off of Grant Road.
