Bids for demolition, excavation, and the foundation of the new community center to be built onto the west wing of the Cook County Schools complex came in over budget, but Project Manager Mark Kragenbring of ORB Management expects savings in some areas to more than make up for the overage. The low bids were approved at the November 20 county board meeting.
Six bidders will be awarded contracts for selective demolition of the school’s west wing; mechanical, electrical, and fire suppression demolition; and excavation, footings and foundations. The low bids totaled $949,786, $71,891 over the $877,895 budgeted.
Kragenbring said considerable savings will result because the amount of rock that will need to be removed is less than was estimated in the budget, and the excavation contract will be reduced accordingly. County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers said contractors can’t charge for work that doesn’t need to be done.
Kragenbring said the cost of furniture, fixtures, and equipment might come in less than the amount budgeted because they can use some things already in place, such as the basketball hoops in the old gym. If necessary, he said, they could also put off installation of a slide at a cost of $100,000, although the pool would still have a spot ready for it.
“My confidence in keeping within the budget is as high as it’s ever been,” said Kragenbring. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure we’re getting things reasonably.”
The contracts are contingent on the expected sale of bonds on November 27 that the county will use to pay costs not yet covered by revenue from the 1 percent infrastructure and recreation sales tax that is funding the new community center.
Kragenbring said they went over the design of the community center with representatives of the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP), and very few changes were recommended. Wade Cole of ORB said they are trying to bring the county the best value possible by balancing low cost with energy efficiency.
A group consisting of commissioners Sue Hakes and Fritz Sobanja, ISD 166 Superintendent Beth Schwarz, a city of Grand Marais representative, current Community Center Director Diane Booth, and a YMCA representative will meet with Kragenbring weekly to go over the budget and the construction process. Funding for Superior National
As it has done in previous years, the board authorized a one-year loan to the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) for continued operation of Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course.
The board also stipulated that its grant of $3.1 million from the county’s 1 percent sales tax for course repair and upgrades would be contingent on a commitment of $600,000 in funding from the Iron Range Resource and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB).
“I don’t want a half-finished project or an unfunded project,” said Commissioner Sue Hakes. Funding for Hovland playground
The board approved up to $25,000 for new playground equipment at the Hovland Town Hall.
The Hovland Community Club submitted an application for 1 percent sales tax funding in October, but the special election ballot question asking whether the county should impose the tax did not include Hovland in its wording; it listed “construction, improvements and additions to community centers and public recreation areas, including public parking areas, located in Grand Marais, Tofte and Lutsen….”
County Attorney’s Office Paralegal Jeanne Smith said the County Attorney’s Office believed the intent was not to limit the location of recreational amenities that could be funded with the 1 percent tax. Nevertheless, the board authorized use of the county’s Recreation Fund for this project.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson said Hovland could have some playground equipment no more than five years old that had been removed from Birch Grove Community Center. It no longer fit in the playground after Birch Grove installed new equipment in its outdoor renovation project. Birch Grove tennis court problem
Commissioner Martinson reported that he had met earlier that morning with Tofte Supervisor Alan “D.C.” Olsen, Wade Cole of ORB Management, and architect Tim Meyer of The Meyer Group, which designed the new Birch Grove Community Center tennis court with non-standard drops in elevation between the net and the two baselines.
Commissioner Fritz Sobanja indicated that he believed dealing with the issue was merely a political gesture to satisfy the concerns of a couple of people.
“That’s just nonsense, Fritz!” Martinson said, adding that Sobanja thought “a couple of nails in the wrong place” in the Grand Marais Public Library addition had been a problem.
Sobanja said, “You’re full of b—s- –, Martinson!” He later walked out of the room when Martinson was sharing more of his opinion.
In a separate interview, Martinson said Meyer defended his design, saying it was a “recreational court,” but Martinson challenged him to show them an example of this design somewhere else. Martinson arranged for the county Highway Department to go out and measure the drop in elevation, and Olsen offered to have some tennis players try out the court and tell him what they thought. Martinson said they would also be consulting with County Attorney Tim Scannell on the matter. Grand Marais hockey rink ready
Although the cement slab won’t be in yet this winter, the new hockey rink in Grand Marais is ready for ice whenever the weather gets cold enough.
Community center bids accepted on November 20:
General demolition:
Veit $118,500
Concrete footings and foundations:
Hovland Inc. $350,000
Fire protection demolition:
Brothers Fire Protection $1,975
Mechanical demolition:
County Plumbing & Heating Inc. $26,380
Electrical demolition:
Hunt Electric Corp. (only bidder) $22,981
Excavation:
Veit (only bidder) $429,950
Leave a Reply