By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The Board of Crawford County Commissioners met with the county’s architect and others Wednesday morning to examine bids to repair the courthouse roof. The good news is there is a bid lower than the architect’s estimate of $1.655 million to do the job. The other side of the issue is they have to figure out a way to pay for it.
Along with architect Bruce Heinlen of Felty-Heinlen Architects and Planners, Facilities Manager Bruce Weir and County Prosecutor Matt Crall, commissioners Steve Reinhard, Jenny Vermillion and Doug Weisenauer discussed the bids.
Although seven bid packets were distributed, only three came back. While the estimated cost of the project to fix the leaky roof and dome totaled $1,655,000, General Restoration of Columbus submitted the lowest bid at $1,382,600. E. Lee Construction of Delphos, Ohio, bid $1,563,470 for the project and Renaissance of Rockford, Illinois, bid $1,778,800.
Heinlen explained to those at the table he had investigated General Restoration as well as Midstate, the sub-contractor that company would use to do the copper work on the project. He said General Restoration’s references checked out
“Nothing came up as a red flag that said they couldn’t do the job and do it well,” Heinlen said. “We don’t have a problem that they be recommended to do the work.”
Vermillion relayed a concern that had been expressed that during a portion of the work the county’s wireless connection was likely to be disrupted. That, in turn, would affect computers in outlying county offices like the Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s a hurdle,” Weir said. “But it’s not a monster by any means.”
Another issue discussed was that the finish on the copper was only likely to last up to 10 years. At that point, the option would be to refinish the wax coating at an estimated cost of $158,000 in today’s dollars.
Weisenauer said, “Just to keep it shiny.”
Reinhard noted, “(We) would probably be better off with colored metal.”
Weisenauer estimated it would be a couple of weeks before commissioners would be ready to award a contract for the project. The commissioners will first meet with the county’s Budget Commission to discuss funding and investigate construction bonds.
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