County Board hears updates on energy, highway projects

McLeod County’s efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its Health and Human Services Building on Ford Avenue are not proceeding as quickly as hoped.
Scott Grivna, the county’s building maintenance supervisor, told the County Board Tuesday morning that the contractor for the brick tuck pointing had not only not started work, but was asking to postpone it to spring 2016.
“They’re trying to push us out to next spring,” said Grivna. “Unfortunately, we need to get this (the tuck pointing) done before we do other things.”
In fact, Grivna said, he reviewed the bids and said he is considering having the county seek new bids or quotes on the tuck pointing.
County Attorney Mike Junge said that if the projected cost is less than $50,000, the county could seek quotes rather than bids, which would streamline the process. Junge also said that “if someone has failed to be a responsible bidder, you can take that into consideration” when awarding quotes or bids.
County Administrator Pat Melvin said the bids for the work were received before Grivna came on board, and that there does not appear to be an actual contract that sets a deadline for completing the work.
Melvin said that Acme, the company contracted to do the work, had an agreement with prior building services supervisor Wayne Rosenfeld that the work would be done in spring 2015.
“It would be too bad if we had to wait another winter,” commented Commissioner Paul Wright.

For more, see the Sept. 2 print edition of The Chronicle.