City board delays approval of building bids

Staff opened bids to renovate the 100-year-old building on Thursday and the city commission discussed them briefly on Monday.

Three companies bid on the work, that will include exterior, roof and other work. The companies were Restoration and Waterproofing, MTS Contracting and Innovative Masonry Restoration.

The first company bid $1,925,000 and indicated in the bid that it could complete the work 555 days after starting it.

The second company bid $1,137,000 and said it could complete the work 330 days after starting.

The third company bid $1,031,500 and said it could complete the work in 240 days.

City Manager Debbie Lamb said the project was larger than city staff anticipated. She said the bids made it clear that the city could not pay for the project on its own. She said one consideration is to take money out of a utility fund and more out of a sales tax fund and finance the rest, which she estimated at around $600,000.

Bids are good for 30 days and Lamb asked commissioners to give the project some thought while she tried to negotiate financing with banks. She hoped to revisit the project at the next commission meeting, which will be in June.

Commissioners also approved incentives and agreed to enter into a contract with 4 State Builders LLC for land at 17th and Belmont. The company will build three homes on the eight lots available there within six months and then sell them. Jim Zaleski, the city’s economic development director, said the homes could be duplexes or three single-family homes. He hopes the company can get potential owners interested in advance of construction so the new owners could offer input on interior colors and features.

Incentives include $10,000 upon signing the contract and waiving tap fees for the homes. The cash will be used for improving the lot before construction and for landscaping after construction.