That Sterling contractor who put in a bid for the Cleveland sewer project that came in 24 thousand dollars more than a contractor from Fort Morgan discussed the city's bid process with the council this week. Alan Krier told the council that there is some confusion on how the city seeks proposals. After Krier told the council that the form the city wanted the proposal on, City Manager Joe Kiolbasa said it didn't matter since the city was going after a designer for the project. Kiolbasa said the contractors will work with the designer and not answer to the city. Kiolbasa said a designer will ad as much as 18 thousand dollars to the sewer project.
Tuesday night’s city council meeting included a debate of sorts as Alan Krier, an owner of Concrete Specialties, addressed the council regarding how bids are taken by the city.
He said there is some “confusion” on proposals sought by the city. Krier was specifically referring to discussion in the last city council meeting regarding two contractors who were asked to submit hourly cost estimates for the work.
“This proposal is such that it never had a bottom line,” he said.
Krier said he submitted his proposal, not the same form the city supplied, with two options, one that followed the city’s format and one that Krier is more comfortable with.
City Manager Joe Kiolbasa said the discussion is irrelevant because the city is going to contract with a project designer. Contractors will work with the designer directly, not the city. Kiolbasa said the city is not asking for anything out of normal practice.
“My opinion is we did not ask a contractor to do anything he wouldn’t do anyway,” he said.
Krier does not agree. He says the process is not working.
“The way this is right now, it is not a good way to do a contract,” Krier said. “We do a lot of work for the city. We don’t want that to change.”
Contracting with a project designer will cost the project an additional $15,000 to $18,000.
Mayor Larry Fetzer said this is something that needs to be worked out with the city staff. He further added that it should not be confronted in the local newspaper.
“That’s not the way to do business… in my opinion,” Fetzer said.
Councilman Rocky Joy said the contract process has been gray recently.
“We’ve just been confused lately on how contracts are done,” Joy said.
Councilwoman Heather Delgado-Diaz agreed with Krier that the recent proposal discussion was a unique process.
Kiolbasa said the process was unique because the funding is not there and would have to be appropriated from next year’s budget.
Tuesday night’s city council meeting included a debate of sorts as Alan Krier, an owner of Concrete Specialties, addressed the council regarding how bids are taken by the city.
He said there is some “confusion” on proposals sought by the city. Krier was specifically referring to discussion in the last city council meeting regarding two contractors who were asked to submit hourly cost estimates for the work.
“This proposal is such that it never had a bottom line,” he said.
Krier said he submitted his proposal, not the same form the city supplied, with two options, one that followed the city’s format and one that Krier is more comfortable with.
City Manager Joe Kiolbasa said the discussion is irrelevant because the city is going to contract with a project designer. Contractors will work with the designer directly, not the city. Kiolbasa said the city is not asking for anything out of normal practice.
“My opinion is we did not ask a contractor to do anything he wouldn’t do anyway,” he said.
Krier does not agree. He says the process is not working.
“The way this is right now, it is not a good way to do a contract,” Krier said. “We do a lot of work for the city. We don’t want that to change.”
Contracting with a project designer will cost the project an additional $15,000 to $18,000.
Mayor Larry Fetzer said this is something that needs to be worked out with the city staff. He further added that it should not be confronted in the local newspaper.
“That’s not the way to do business… in my opinion,” Fetzer said.
Councilman Rocky Joy said the contract process has been gray recently.
“We’ve just been confused lately on how contracts are done,” Joy said.
Councilwoman Heather Delgado-Diaz agreed with Krier that the recent proposal discussion was a unique process.
Kiolbasa said the process was unique because the funding is not there and would have to be appropriated from next year’s budget.
