Union County schools facilities committee forwards multiple construction and repair bids to full board

The Union County Public Schools facilities committee on April 29 recommended that the full school board consider a slate of construction and repair contracts, including painting, flooring, HVAC replacement and other projects across the district.

Mr. McManis, a district facilities staff member, told the committee that painting bids received March 31 produced lowest responsive bidders for three schools and that “staff recommends … the three contracts in the total amount of $501,480.” The committee voted to forward those painting contracts to the full board for approval.

The committee also reviewed multiple flooring quotes from Shaw Industries. Mr. McManis said the district received a Shaw state-contract (Sourcewell) quote on April 13 to update flooring at Shiloh Valley Primary and a separate Shaw quote on April 21 for Kensington Elementary; staff asked the committee to send both quotes to the full board. Mr. McManis noted a memo error that incorrectly named a school and said staff would correct it before the board packet is finalized.

An insurance claim arising from an April 12 water event at Cuthbertson High generated a repair quote from Royal Wood of $140,327 to replace the auxiliary gym floor. Mr. McManis said the work will be processed through the district’s insurance funds and asked the committee to recommend board approval because the amount exceeds $100,000; the committee agreed to forward the item.

On HVAC, Mr. McManis described a rebid for New Town Elementary’s chiller replacement. Team Mechanical LLC submitted the lowest responsive bid at $525,200; staff recommended the committee forward that bid to the full board. Committee members noted rising costs for HVAC and other equipment since earlier bids.

Miss Eml presented a lowest responsive bid from Sylvester and Cochran of $394,900 for replacement work at Rock Elementary and recommended forwarding that bid; the item was within the budgeted plan using savings from other projects. She also recommended sending a premium-bond-funded barn project at Forest Hills High (lowest responsive bidder J. Taylor, Inc., $691,870) and a $158,400 design proposal from Boomerang Design for a Porter Ridge High School fieldhouse to the full board. The barn scope includes fencing, outdoor shelters and a small barn structure (staff noted the barn is roughly 1,500 square feet).

Each of the items above was moved by the committee to be placed on the full board agenda for final approval. The committee received the presentations and supporting memos and did not make final contract awards at the facilities meeting.

The committee adjourned after receiving additional informational updates on bond projects, a change-order reconciliation for Forest Hills and a surplus-inventory listing.