Bids came in higher than expected for the addition to Greene County Elementary School, in part due to the accelerated construction schedule needed to have the space complete by the time school starts next August.
The Greene County Schools board held a 12-minute special meeting Wednesday to hold a public hearing on the project and to accept bids. There were no comments made or shared at the hearing.
Architect Mark Allen of Shive Hattery presented bids from six qualified contractor. Badding Construction of Carroll submitted the low bid of $1,718,800. The project had been estimated at $1.4 million.
Allen said pricing in the bids was “close and tight,” with the four lower bids all within 5.8 percent of each other.
He named three reasons for the bids being more than expected. The planned HVAC system had to be changed because the system in the current building will not support the added space; the firewall between the existing and new construction will cost more than expected in order not to install a sprinkler system in the new space; and the school will pay a premium due to the demanding schedule needed to have the addition completed by Aug. 31.
The bidders submitted a few possible deductions in their bids. The original plan called for renovating the existing office suite into another classroom. Bids provided deductions should that portion of the project be dropped.
Superintendent Tim Christensen suggested taking that deduction, saying the classroom space isn’t needed now and the work could be done at a future time should additional classroom space become a critical need.
The board approved Badding Construction’s bid with $58,300 in deductions for not modifying the office for a total cost of $1,660,500. The project will begin in early March and be completed by Aug. 31. The project will be paid for with funds from the 1-cent sales tax and the physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL).
All visitors to the school will be directed to use the east entrance (closest to the playground) after March 1. The addition will be on the northwest corner of the building.
