By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The price tag of the addition and renovation of the Walbridge Branch of the Wood County District Public Library is coming in under budget.
The library’s board Tuesday accepted a general contractor bid of $849,000 from Midwest Construction of Holland. The board also accepted the company’s bid of $3,350 for shades.
The administration has decided not to pursue a second alternate bid for benches and plantings. Library Director Michael Penrod said they will wait until the project is finished to do that work.
The estimated cost for the bid was $1 million. Of the 10 bids submitted seven were under that number.
Tom Stuckey, the project administrator, said to have that number of bids submitted was “phenomenal.”
The one concern with the Midwest bid was how much under it was the others. The unsuccessful bids ranged from $929,800 from Spieker to $1,165,777 from Cross renovation. Penrod said he was pleased so many area firms were interested in the project.
Several board members questioned the low bid. Stuckey said he did go back to talk to company officials, and they assured him they “capable and confident that they are ready to proceed.”
Stuckey said he’s worked with the company on other projects. “They’re a capable company. They’ve been around a long time. They have the wherewithal to do this project.”
Ellen Dalton wondered if they might cut corners, or if they were hiring cheap labor.
Stuckey said he will be on the site monitoring construction.
The company hires union labor, and all workers must be paid prevailing wage.
He said that sometimes how low a bid comes in is determined by what the subcontractors say they can do their parts of the projects for. Some companies may have a single preferred subcontractor, and therefore don’t get a lower price.
Stuckey praised the board for its work on the project. “There will be great pride in this. I’m looking forward to the groundbreaking.”
