Despite the continuing winter-like weather, outdoor construction continues on the Cook County Family YMCA facility. The county board continues to make cost-related decisions in order to keep the project within the budget it has set. Its architecture and engineering firm, JLG Architects, is considering litigation against the county related to reimbursement issues.
JLG Architects, the Cook County Family YMCA construction project’s architectural and engineering firm, is considering litigation against the county related to reimbursement issues.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson told the Cook County News-Herald that he and Commissioner Sue Hakes had been part of a meeting that included Dan Miller of JLG Architects before the county board meeting on April 9, but he was not free to disclose what they discussed with Miller.
Budget figures presented to the board that day by Project Manager Wade Cole of ORB Management show that the original amount budgeted for JLG’s services, not including expenses, was $705,558.96, but that figure was lowered to $580,232.77 when the project cost was reduced from $11,885,134.68 to $9,484,757.58.
In the process of reducing the scope of the project to bring costs down, JLG was involved in producing new design specifications, but since it would be reimbursed according to a percentage of the costs, the amount of its compensation was reduced.
The county board tabled a discussion of the potential litigation by JLG.
ORB Management’s compensation for the community center project was also reduced—from $557,835.18 to $421,000.08 (not including expenses)—when the scope of the project was reduced.
Commissioning agent
The county board continues to tweak the Cook County Family YMCA construction budget in order to stay within its $9.5 million limit.
Earlier this year, the Cook County Community Center Steering Committee discussed setting aside $45,000 for the service of a commissioning agent, which is an expert who would go over plans and monitor the installation of building systems such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) to make sure the work was done properly.
The budget figures Cole presented left the commissioning agent out. Commissioner Sue Hakes, on the steering committee, recommended that the board consider putting the $45,000 back into the budget, saying that the Cook County Local Energy Project had hoped to see a commissioning agent oversee the HVAC design and installation.
“It’s a level of insurance that’s nice to have,” Project Manager Cole said. “I’m not sure it’s a ‘need to have.’”
Commissioner Martinson said he didn’t think they needed a commissioning agent at this point, saying they have reliable people doing the work.
The board discussed including some money in the budget for a commissioning agent, but less than the earlier estimate of $45,000 since the agent was not involved in the process earlier.
Project Manager Cole said he would not recommend a commissioning agent at this point because installers were following instructions and making changes as directed by the engineers. The contractors installing the HVAC equipment will train building operators when the project is done, and a computerized central control system will give feedback on how the system is working. The building will have a 12-month warranty period that will start when the building is occupied. Cole said he wasn’t sure the county would get their money out of hiring a commissioning agent.
A motion to seek bids on commissioning passed by a vote of 3-2, with Sue Hakes, Jan Hall, and Heidi Doo- Kirk voting aye and Bruce Martinson and Garry Gamble voting nay.
Rebids
The county originally received four bids for painting the interior of the new facility, with the lowest bid coming in at $71,925. When the size of the building was reduced to save costs, ORB worked with the low bidder, Regional Contracting & Painting, on adjusting its bid. When the company went over its figures more carefully, they apparently realized they had not calculated properly and adjusted the bid up rather than down even with the smaller scope. They then asked to opt out of the bid.
The second low bidder, Northern Painting and Drywall, submitted a price of $96,000 for the smaller scope, down from their original bid of $125,835. The county board, however, decided to go out for rebids. Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk reminded the board that they had been advised by their construction attorney to consider going out for rebids when changing a project scope by 25 percent or more.
A motion to rebid the painting passed unanimously.
The board also voted on rebids for aluminum storefronts and glazing and for earthwork. St. Germain’s Glass Co. was the only bidder for aluminum storefronts and glazing, and its bid of $102,700 was accepted, reflecting design changes to bring the cost down. The low bid in the first round of bidding had been $203,750.
The county received two rebids for earthwork and accepted the low bid of $169,850 from Veit & Company Inc. The low bid the first time around, when the price included a new ball field, had been $585,000.
The motion to accept the St. Germain’s and Veit bids passed 4-1, with Commissioner Gamble voting nay.
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