There was a lot of optimism after the city handed out 6 bid
packets for the big Miner Road renovation project.
More bidders = more competition = (hopefully) lower cost.Unfortunately for city taxpayers, only 2 companies actually submitted bids.
The “lowest and best” bid, submitted by C.A. Agresta
Construction Co., was way more than the city expected to pay.
Engineer Brian Mader estimated the project might cost $3.2
million.
The city budgeted $3 million for it.
The winning bid: $3,460.358.40.
Council President Cathy Murphy delivered the bad news at a
March 24th Committee of the Whole meeting:
“It came in over budget.
We allocated $3million for the project. It came in at $3,460,000”
When asked to explain the lack of bidders, Service Director
Thom Evans could only speculate:
I don’t know for sure.
I have a little bit of suspicion it’s because the project was fragmented out…
It will take several different subs (subcontractors) for asphalt, concrete and drainage work…
If the value of the project is only 45% to the bidder, they are putting up a bond for a large project. That’s pretty expensive.”
Murphy focused on some discrepancies between the 2 submitted bids:
On item 614 (traffic control) Agresta bid $257,500. The losing bidder quoted $77,000.
Evans explained:
Because Agresta is the low bidder, they obviously were lower on other items.
All contractors have their own way to figure it (their bid) out.
Murphy also commented on the large amount ($200,000) that
Mader (who put the bid package together for the city) set as set aside as a “discretionary
allowance”.
Evans commented:
Evans commented:
Discretionary allowances are for items that are unforeseen or for quantities that change during the course of a contract.
The contractor is only paid for what they perform….
It (the allowance) is quite a lot to work with.”
Several major projects that Mader’s predecessor worked on
went $100,000.00 over budget.
Here’s hoping Mader does a good job keeping costs under control.
THE SOLUTION? BORROW MORE MONEY
Council’s Legislative & Finance Committee (L&F),
comprised of President Cathy Murphy and Council Members Chuck Brunello and Leo
Lombardo, met with Mayor Scott Coleman and city Finance Director Joe Filippo on
April 10th to discuss the over-budget Miner Road Project Contract.
Their solution: borrow more money.
Coleman later explained to the full Council:
Last year we took out short term notes (i.e. borrowed money) because the cost of carrying the notes (i.e. interest rates) were so low.
The notes are coming due.
We have to pay them off or secure another year of short term notes…
We plan to take out two notes: $4.2 million (to replace a 2014 $3.65 million note) and $500,000.00 notes ($4.7 million total).
In 2014 we took out a $3.65 million note to pay for repaving Ford Road, replacing a Highland Road culvert and for the Miner Road project….
We spent $1.2 million on Ford Road.We are including some additional money for $500,000 in road improvements.At the end of 2016 when the notes come due we can look for more (borrowing) for Highland Road (water main replacement project), pay some of it down or bond it (the debt) out.”
Councilman Bob Mastrangelo (M) understood the strategy but
questioned the figures.
He focused on the fact that the city won’t actually be picking up the entire cost pay for the entire Miner Road project.
That led to this exchange with Finance Director Joe Filippo (F).
He focused on the fact that the city won’t actually be picking up the entire cost pay for the entire Miner Road project.
That led to this exchange with Finance Director Joe Filippo (F).
M: Why are we getting a note on the $1.8 million that will be refunded (through an already awarded county grant and 0% interest loan---0% being a better rate than the note interest rate)?
F: We need the money to pay off first.
The county award is a reimbursement.
We have to spend the money to get the (county) money.M: We do have the money (to cover the $1.8 million) in the General Fund.F: This way, at the end of the year will we have a $1.8 million in the Capital Fund.
Mastrangelo’s point?
Does it make sense to borrow money and incur interest costs
for the $1.8 million county award when the city has more than enough money to
cover that cost during the relatively short pre-reimbursement period?
Both the Mayor and L&F recommended the deal…so their answer, clearly, is Yes.
MAYFIELD SCHOOLS:
STILL NOT STEPPING UP TO THE SERVING LINE
The Mayfield High School tennis teams took it in the shorts
several years ago, thanks to the “Wildcat Park” football stadium boosters.
The high school tennis courts were ripped out to make room
for a new stadium parking lot.
“Wildcat Park” phase 2, currently underway, focuses on adding a party pavilion at the stadium.
“Wildcat Park” phase 2, currently underway, focuses on adding a party pavilion at the stadium.
Replacing the tennis courts clearly isn’t a priority for the Mayfield School Board or the “Wildcat Park” booster crew.
In order to keep the teams going, Mayfield tennis players
have been trekking over to, and using, the tennis courts at our Community Park.
The Mayfield Schools haven’t paid a dime for its priority access to, and use of, the taxpayer-maintained Highland Heights tennis courts.
On Tuesday night, Recreation Director Dave Ianiro asked for
Council’s OK to advertise and accept bids to resurface all 8 tennis courts.
Ianiro said:
They were last done 15 years ago.
We only have a certain time frame to get them done.
Mayfield (schools) use them in the spring and fall.
Ianiro said that he had spoken to the Mayfield Athletic Director.
He told Council members:
He told Council members:
“…they are going to assist on different things we do to improve the park.
We have to put in some Porta-Potties (for the tennis players) because the bathrooms aren’t open yet.
They (Mayfield Schools) will assist with payment for that.
It’s a minimum cost, but it’s a start for them to start paying for the cost of (the school’s) using (the tennis courts) in fall and spring.”
Well that's certainly one way to look at it.
If the Mayfield Schools really wanted to step up to the
serving line they’d pay for resurfacing the tennis courts, not renting some cheap portable toilets.
After all, the community tennis courts now function as the Mayfield Schools' Tennis Stadium, and will continue to do so for an unknown number of years to come.
FAREWELL JEAN BUCHAK!
Mayor Scott Coleman and Council members gave a nice farewell
to Jean Buchak on March 24th.
Buchak served as Clerk of Council for the last 33 years.
Buchak served as Clerk of Council for the last 33 years.
They apparently took her by surprise.
When Council President Cathy Murphy began reading a “Resolution
of Appreciation” in her honor, Buchak---who usually types every Council
resolution—asked:
Where did you get that?
Buchak started working for the city in 1964.
Her first job was police clerk.
She became the city’s first police dispatcher and later retired (before being rehired by the city) as Police Chief Jim Cook’s secretary.
Cook commented:
Her first job was police clerk.
She became the city’s first police dispatcher and later retired (before being rehired by the city) as Police Chief Jim Cook’s secretary.
Cook commented:
She’s been great to work with.
She taught me a lot.
It’s been an honor to be with her.
He then added with a laugh:
I don’t know if I’d call her my secretary. She was more telling me what to do.
Councilman Ed Hargate remarked on the tumultuous times that
marked Buchak’s beginning year as Clerk of Council:
The Resolution (of Appreciation) mentions that Jean was first appointed (as Clerk of Council) on a temporary basis.
The reason why is that the position had become a political football.
(Former) Mayor Tom Hughes was running for reelection against 3 members of council.
There was a need for someone who was above politics and someone who was able to work with everyone.
It is a testament to Jean that she was always able to work with everyone and was above politics.
Mayor Scott Coleman shared this anecdote:
I remember my 1st council meeting (20 years ago).
I didn’t say a word.
I remember walking out and Jean came up to me and said, “ Good job tonight.”
I told her I didn’t say anything
“Don’t worry,” she told me, “you will”.
Every Council member wished her well.
When the accolades ended Buchak demonstrated her noted good humor, commenting:
When the accolades ended Buchak demonstrated her noted good humor, commenting:
I think I’ll keep this (meeting) recording. I’ve never had a nicer one.
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| Jean Buchak's (with flowers) Council Farewell front(L to R): Lisa Stickan, Ann D'Amico, Jean Buchak, Chuck Brunello rear (L to R): Ed Hargate, Scott Coleman, Cathy Murphy, Leo Lombardo, Bob Mastrangelo, Tim Paluf |
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| President Cathy Murphy (in pink) insisted on a "funny" picture to mark the occasion |
CITY HALL GETS SPIFFED UP
There’s been a lot of work going on at City Hall.
A new HVAC system has been installed.
The public bathrooms outside the Council Chambers have been renovated and made ADA-compliant.
A new HVAC system has been installed.
The public bathrooms outside the Council Chambers have been renovated and made ADA-compliant.
Walls have been painted, new furniture has been ordered, and
new rugs installed.
Here are a couple snapshots showing the spiffy results.
Here are a couple snapshots showing the spiffy results.
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| Newly painted and carpeted inner office area |
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| A new dining area for city hall staff |
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| Renovated City Hall conference room |
