Decatur Set to Award Contract for Renovation of Fire Station #1
Decatur Metro | May 2, 2011On the agenda (page 58 of materials) for tonight’s Decatur City Commission meeting: awarding a $1,792,000 contract to D.A Edwards and Company of Atlanta for improvements to Decatur’s Fire Station #1.
The entire budget for the renovation is set at $2,340,000, which includes a 10% contingency $225,000 for new furniture, fixtures, etc, and $143,000 for LEED and construction administration services.
You may recall that these projects are being paid for with partially federally subsidized Build America Bonds that the city took out late last year.
According to Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon’s letter to the City Manager, D.A Edwards also recently built fire stations in Athens-Clarke County and Union City. The building is being designed to meet LEED Silver – and perhaps LEED Gold – standards.
Mr. Saxon projects that the project will take between 10-12 months to complete.
$143,000 for a wall plaque and CA is absoultely OUTRAGEOUS! This amounts to 7.97% of the construction budget of $1,792,000. To put this into perspective, the ENTIRE design budget for a project of this size (Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding & Negotiation, AND Construction Administration) should have been no more than 7% and could be had for much less.
Way to go team. Way to watch those tax dollars.
Incredible.
“You may recall that these projects are being paid for with partially federally subsidized Build America Bonds that the city took out late last year.”
You may also recall that voters had approved another bond in 2006 that was supposed to pay for this, and the money was spent elsewhere. In fact, the estimates of what that bond would cover, on which the vote was based, were 100% off. The new borrowing, in an equal sum as the original ($16,000,000 apiece), was not voter approved.
You may also recall that no one stood up and opposed the plan at the City Commission vote.
That’s about the best I could say in defense, too. I wouldn’t want the job of defending that process on the merits.
Was it the process this time around or the underestimating in 2006 that bugs you?
If they award the contract tonight, how quickly would work begin? Just curious, as I have heard that the project will require Scott Park and its tennis courts to be closed for the duration of construction.
I believe they said last night that construction begins in June.
That’s what Chief Dixon said in a conversation I had with her recently.
Much needed. I’m glad for our firefighters, who deserve an up-to-date facility. And I’m proud it’s LEED. Decatur should lead the way in sustainability. Don’t like it? Move to Marietta. Now let’s get the cop shop renovated or rebuilt.
Did you know that one can build to LEED standards WITHOUT paying the six figure fees hat are required to get the official certification and plaque? Do you really think that it is more important to pay $100,000 for a $20 wall plaque or might that money be better speant elsewhere?
If you would like an intellegent discussion then lets talk. If your best retort is “move to Marietta” if we don’t all fall in lock-step with your views then forget it as all hope is lost.
I just think you’d be happier there.
Thank you for your concern over my personal well being.
Just hope they don’t have to do a fact finding trip to China for the building materials. Saxon, why does that name ring a gong ?