The Sherburne County Board Tuesday awarded the contract to construct the elevator for the new courts building to Otis Elevator Co. at $1,560,540.
The price is $275,540 higher than the engineer’s estimate for the work. But Construction Manager Patrick Sims of Adolfson & Peterson said he recommended approving the bid.
The elevator was part of bid package #2 on the Government Center Expansion Project.
The original bid, which included not only the elevator, but cast-in-place concrete, steel supply and steel erection, was opened Nov. 2.
Unfortunately, no bids were received for the elevator work.
“It’s kind of a frustrating scenario,” said Sims. “On the original bid date we expected to receive three or four bids. But contractors basically told us on bid day they were not going to bid.”
The specifications were discussed with elevator contractors and modified. Another bid was taken on Nov. 29.
“We communicated with them again with the same scenario - two of four contractors backed out on bid day,” said Sims.
After reviewing the two bids, they decided to recommend going with Otis Elevator, even though it was over the estimate.
“There are only seven or eight contractors who do elevator work,” said Sims. “We don’t recommend going up for another re-bid.”
He said getting the elevator contract is important to the timing of the project.
“We have to get the foundations in the ground. That’s the reason we bid the elevators with bid package #2,” he said. “That’s why its critical to get this contract approved today.”
Even with the higher cost for the elevator work, Sims said bid package #2 was still about $300,000 under estimate.
“As a project, all the bids so far are six to seven percent under budget,” he said.
BWBR Architects and Adolfson & Peterson are working on bid package #3, which covers the rest of the project.
Other Business
In other action the board:
• Set the mileage reimbursement for 2017 at the current rate allowed by the IRS.
• Set the daily meal expense reimbursement at $30 for in-state travel and $35 for out-of-state travel;
• Approved a gambling premises permit for the Monticello Lions at KJ’s Refuge in Orrock Twp.;
• Renewed a gambling premises permit for Clear Lake Lions at Kinitski’s Bar and Grill in Palmer Twp.;
• Approved a Sunday Liquor License for the potential new owner of Finish Line Cafe contingent on the successful sale and closing of the property;
• Approved a 3.2 percent Malt Liquor License for Del-Tone/Luth Gun Club in Haven Twp.;
• Approved a tobacco license application for the new owner of Sand Dune Stop from Dec. 14, 2016 through June 30, 2017;
• Approved tax abatement payments to 10 companies totalling $150,917.69;
• Approved the 2017 Family Group Decision Making grant award in the amount of $31,784 from the MN Dept. of Human Services;
• Approved a purchase of service agreement with Tri-CAP in the amount of $35,000 to provide transportation services;
• Approved the final payment of $13,408.20 to AAA Striping for pavement marking on county roads;
• Approved the final contract payment of $63,439.46 to Knife River Corp. for the reconditioning of Co. Rd. 11 from Co. Rd. 24 to Co. Rd. 4;
• Appointed Lila Spenser as a primary member and Todd Maloney as an alternate to the Sherburne County Planning Advisory Commission for three-year terms;
• Approved the 2016 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant in the amount of $54,300 for training, travel and equipment;
• Re-appointed Betsy Wergin to serve on the Sherburne County Personnel Board of Appeals;
• Approved a conditional use permit for Adam Hoppe for a personal storage structure on his property off 17th Street in Blue Hill Twp.;
• Approved an interim use permit for North Line/John Louiselle for a business selling vehicles, boats or farm equipment on a 4.60-acre parcel on 200th Ave. NW in Big Lake;
• Approved a contract with Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District for a matching grant of $14,500 for resource management at Oak Savanna Park.
