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| 6/22/2009 | Experience key in bid choice |
By Jennifer Simmons – Editor-OGLE COUNTY LIFE Board awards courthouse renovation work to area construction firm despite higher cost
OREGON-On Tuesday night, Ogle County Board members voted against a recommendation by the Long Range Planning Committee and instead hired Ringland-Johnson Construction, of Cherry Valley, to do the courthouse renovation work.
The LRP had recommended EVS Construction, of Aurora, the low bidder for the project, to complete the renovation work, however board members voted 16-8 to hire Ringland-Johnson for the project.
Board member Bob DeArvil (District 1) made the recommendation to approve resolution 2009-0609 to accept the bid from Ringland-Johnson for the project in the amount of $5,505,967.
EVS Construction’s bid was $5,427,600.
“Ringland-Johnson is more financially stable and has more experience in restoring historical buildings than EVS,” DeArvil said.
Architect Dennis Vovos, from Holabird & Root, the Chicago firm the county has hired to oversee the project, said the largest difference between the two bidders is that Ringland-Johnson has restored numerous historic buildings, while EVS has done none.
As stated in state statutes, the county board is not legally obligated to accept the lowest bid, but rather the lowest responsible bidder, according to Ogle County States Attorney Ben Roe.
The statute reads In determining the lowest responsible bidder, the county board shall take into consideration the qualities of the articles supplied; their conformity with the specifications; their suitability to the requirements of the count;, availability of support services; uniqueness of the service, materials, equipment, or supplies as it applies to networked, integrated computer systems; compatibility to existing equipment; and the delivery terms.
Ogle County Board Chairman Ed Rice, Rochelle, cast one of the dissenting votes.
“As chairman of the county board, I have to support the lowest bidder unless there is a glaring difference, which there isn’t,” he said.
“I wanted the county board to make the decision, and they did,” he said.
The courthouse project is expected to take approximately 10 months.
At the May 19 county board meeting, Tom Lewandowski, Oregon, a former county board member who works for Ringland-Johnson, addressed the board and urged them to choose his firm because they employ local residents.
He brought several Ogle County residents with him to that meeting who have been or currently are employed by Ringland-Johnson.
Originally, cost estimates for the project were anticipated to be $9.5 million. It is now more likely the project will cost approximately $7.5 million.
The $7.5 million includes construction at the courthouse, but also furnishings, design costs, testing costs, rent for the Watt Building, Mt. Morris, where county offices are located for the duration of the project, moving costs, and other related expenses.
Once completed, the courthouse will house offices for the county clerk and recorder, treasurer and collector, supervisor of assessments, coroner, animal control, and geographic information system (GIS) partnership.
Rice anticipates the courthouse will be reopened next summer. |