New firm will get park work

With the apparent low bidder dropping out because of an omission, the next bidder in line will likely be awarded the contract for phase IV of Hudson Family Park.

Members of the Portland Park Board voted Tuesday to hire Muhlenkamp Building Corp. of Celina, Ohio, but the company cannot be awarded the contract until a bonding resolution is approved by city council, city clerk-treasurer Randy Geesaman said today.

The council voted 3-2 to adopt that bonding resolution Monday, one vote short of a required four-vote majority. The council is expected to vote on the resolution again June 21.

Muhlenkamp submitted a total bid of $1,345,800, including two alternates, and Mid-States Concrete and General Construction, Redkey, has a total bid of $1,353,000, including the $127,000 left out of the contract and two alternates. The difference between the two is $7,200.

An official with Mid-States called Michael Krosschell of The Schneider Corporation just after Thursday's board of works meeting and said an error was made in the bid. The contractor omitted $127,000 from the bid for subcontracting work, Krosschell said. If this amount had been included, Mid-States' bid would have been about $7,000 more than the Muhlenkamp bid. Bids were opened during that meeting.

Before voting today, park board member Larry Freyburgher asked if Mid-States, could re-bid the project. Krosschell said that was possible, but other companies also would be allowed to re-bid, which would delay the project by about three to four weeks.

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Freyburgher said he would like to see a local contractor be awarded the bid.

Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier said several subcontractors who will be working on the project are from Jay County - including A. Landon Excavating, Cook's Nursery and Trim, Hemmelgarn Masonry and All Circuit Electrical.

Freyburgher said he was satisfied the subcontractors are local and voted to recommend that the city hire Muhlenkamp. The two alternates submitted by Muhlenkamp also were included in the recommendation. One alternate, which is $86,470, is to add a roof to the amphitheater, and the other $32,330 is to add a truss across the stage to hold sound and lighting equipment.

Krosschell said he expects construction on phase IV will begin July 1.

In other business Tuesday, board members voted to replace the backstop behind home plate at Runkle-Miller Field at a cost of $15,000.

Gabbard Fence Construction will replace the wall, the netting and the poles that hold up the netting.

Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said this morning it will take about five days to replace the backstop, and the work will have to be done when the weather is good and the Portland Rockets have a stretch without home games. Harker said he would like to see the backstop replaced as soon as possible.

"Well, it's certainly time," said park board president Neil Medler, who added that he believes the backstop has never been replaced.

In a related matter, board members voted to replace the fencing at the basketball court at Weiler-Wilson Park, to build two new two dugouts at Portland Memorial Park and to replace a fence at Hines-Inman Field.

The basketball court fencing will cost $2,000; the dugouts at the south diamond will cost $7,000 and the football field fence costs $750. The work will be done by Gabbard.

Also Tuesday, board members:

•Signed a resolution authorizing the board of works to approve claims and change orders for phase IV of Hudson Family Park.

•Learned that attendance at the Portland Pool during Memorial holiday weekend was much higher this year than last.

Rachel McKee, pool manager, told the board that 330 paid admission to the pool during that weekend this year, compared to 151 in 2009.

Also more season and family passes were sold this year than last year. The pool currently is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 5 to 8 p.m., until school is out. The last day of school is Tuesday.[[In-content Ad]]