After a two-hour review of two proposals for a new water treatment plant and maintenance facility Jan. 27, the West Geauga Schools Board of Education scheduled a mid-February vote to choose between the plans.
After a two-hour review of two proposals for a new water treatment plant and maintenance facility Jan. 27, the West Geauga Schools Board of Education scheduled a mid-February vote to choose between the plans.
Higley Construction, of Cleveland, submitted a bid totaling $4.8 million and Cold Harbor Building Company, of Chardon, submitted a bid for $5.2 million, said district Treasurer Karen Pavlat in a follow-up interview Feb. 2.
Both proposals include the water treatment and maintenance facilities.
Higley’s proposal included 23 exclusions, which are services removed from the project scope, said Scott Vura, executive vice president and principal of infrastructure for Osborn Engineering.
“We’re concerned about Higley treating this more like a bid and then coming back with the old ‘nickel and dime’ type,” he added. “One (thing that stood out about Cold Harbor) was they didn’t have any exclusions. They sort of went the other way. They put in a series of allowances, sort of as an ‘if needed.’”
Cold Harbor’s proposal also includes a temporary access road into their budget, which could later be upgraded to asphalt or concrete and used as the main access road to the property, Vura said.
“(Cold Harbor was) so specific (in) how they’re going to prepare the site for construction,” he said.
To prepare the construction access road, Cold Harbor proposed using a foot of 1-and-2-inch limestone and a 6-inch layer of another limestone base, Vura explained.
“So, this would be their work platform throughout the whole entire construction and then when they’re done, we could leave that access road as limestone,” he said. “They don’t want mud, they don’t want to be held back by weather, they don’t want to be held back by snow, they don’t want to worry about (getting) a truck stuck.”
Cold Harbor’s budget includes costs from the beginning of the project through completion, he said.
Higley’s proposal does not include pricing for a temporary access road, Vura said.
“(Cold Harbor was) trying to present a complete budget — all in,” Vura said. “We’re going in one time for a procurement and the dollars are the dollars period like this is to cover us from the start of the design phase through construction turned over to you.”
Higley’s proposal estimates project completion to be sooner than Cold Harbor’s timeline, Vura added.
“When I compare the two schedules, the tightness of the Higley schedule makes me think that they’re not putting enough float (time) in,” Vura said. “I don’t think (Higley is) putting in enough allowance for setbacks, unforeseen conditions (like) a permit being delayed. Whereas, I think the Cold Harbor schedule has that schedule float built into it. It seems more realistic.”
Vura also noted Cold Harbor’s reputation as a water and wastewater management company.
Board member Mark Vidmar later asked Facilities Manager Mark Richardson to clarify the need for the project.
Richardson said the district needs a centralized shop area to work in and storage space for vehicles that are currently housed at at least three locations across the county.
“I love guys that do maintenance. I’m a guy that turns my own wrenches too, right?” Vidmar said. “So, I totally appreciate having a work area and somewhere to work. I’m just trying to get my head around spending 1.2 million bucks for a shop area, right? … I guess I’m just trying to get my head around why we (need a new building) versus what we have right now.”
Board member Kathy Leavenworth said the district’s current facilities do not sufficiently support maintenance staff.
“We’re asking our employees to be doing the best work that they can possibly be doing in space that is inadequate,” Leavenworth said. “It’s not a Taj Mahal. It’s not a — ‘This is the top of the line.’ It’s giving them space that is safe and that is thanking them in a way for the wonderful work that they do and giving them the opportunity to work in a viable, workable space.”
Superintendent Nancy Benincasa also addressed the need for the new building.
“Part of our charge is to prioritize what we’re going to tackle for our district and for our kids,” she said. “The board’s wherewithal and fortitude in choosing Osborn to kind of lead us through this process is making it one that I think it’s obviously going to benefit our campuses — in not maybe the sexiest of ways — but in terms of running and being safer, it’s certainly important.”
The board is expected to vote on the proposals at its Feb. 17 board meeting.
Photo caption
EMMA MACNIVEN/KMG
Pictured, back row, from left, are board members Ellen Naylor, Bill Beers, Board President Pam Claypool, board members Kathy Leavenworth, Mark Vidmar and Superintendent Nancy Benincasa.
Front row, from left, are Osborn Engineering Project Manager Dom Vokic, Executive Vice President and Principal of Infrastructure Scott Vura, West Geauga Director of Instructional Technology and Operations Scott Amstutz and Osborn Engineering Director of Architecture Scott Brandt.
