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MARIETTA – The contract to install an elevator at the Armory in Marietta will go to G&M Construction Inc. of Zanesville, according to a recommendation by the city engineering department during a meeting of city council’s lands, buildings and parks committee Tuesday.
“We recommend G&M Construction, who also did the ground floor renovation of the Armory building,” said city engineer Joe Tucker.
He said the Otis Elevator Company would be the subcontractor on the project with G&M.
Tucker said G&M submitted a base bid price of $257,367, about 5.9 percent higher than the original engineer’s probable cost estimate of $243,031.
G&M was among three bids submitted for the elevator project.
Grae-Con Construction submitted a bid of $284,000, which was 17.19 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate.
Tucker noted United Construction Company Inc. from Parkersburg had submitted a lower base bid, $255,247, than G&M. But United listed West Virginia Elevator as its subcontractor, and the elevator installed would have been a Thyssen Krupp Endura 2500 Twin-Post unit, requiring an interior machine room.
Pickering Associates designed the elevator project for a unit that would not require an interior machine room, and Tucker said the additional coordination effort needed for a re-design by Pickering and approval from the Washington County Building Permit Office would delay the project.
“So the engineering department has determined that G&M Construction is the lowest and best bid for the project,” Tucker said.
Total estimated construction cost for the elevator project is $299,369, but Tucker said the current funding available is $272,554.
That money includes an Ohio Facilities Construction Commission grant for $200,000, a contribution of $52,929 from the Armory Community Fund and an additional $19,625 from the city’s Community Development Block Grant.
“That leaves a shortfall of $26,815,” Tucker said.
Assistant Safety-Service Director Bill Dauber noted Tucker had built in a $23,500 contingency in his elevator construction project estimate.
“If you knocked off the contingency the project would only be around $3,000 short,” Dauber said.
Tucker said in a perfect world that would be possible, but in his experience such projects always require some contingency funding.
Councilman Steve Thomas, D-3rd Ward, suggested WASCO Inc., which maintains an office in the Armory building, could possibly kick in some funding for the elevator project, and Tucker said perhaps the Armory Square Inc. support group could provide some additional money for the elevator.
Councilman Roger Kalter, D-1st Ward, who chairs the lands, buildings and parks committee, said he understood that Armory Square Inc. had no more funding to contribute to the project.
The elevator project is scheduled to begin on July 7 and would require council approval of the G&M contract before work could start, but the next regular council session is on the evening of July 7.
Also during Tuesday’s committee meeting, Tucker said a $67,781 change order would have to be submitted for the roofing and HVAC project at the city’s 304 Putnam St. building.
He said the money is needed for carpet and vinyl flooring that will have to be installed to replace asbestos-laden floor tiles the contractor had to remove from the building.
Another change order in the amount of $5,109 is needed for additional electrical work, including light fixtures, switches and other equipment, Tucker said.
And a change order for $616 will also be submitted for removing asbestos discovered in a small closet on the main floor of the building, he said, noting the closet had been locked when asbestos was removed from the rest of that floor.
With those change orders taken out, approximately $374,000 will be left out of the original $1.4 million budgeted for the 304 Putnam St. project.
The committee members also agreed to pursue a change to section 549.08 of the city code that prohibits the discharge of firearms within the city limits.
The change, recommended by the city administration, would allow the firing of blank ammunition during certain ceremonies, historical reenactments, theater productions and for the start of athletic events.
“We’re just legislating something we’ve already been doing for years,” said Councilman Mike McCauley, D-2nd Ward, noting the firing of blank ammunition has always been used during many city ceremonial activities.