by: Diane Benjamin
Less than 2 weeks ago the cost to repair the Coliseum parking garage was $1,098,836. The Council approved a contract for repairs: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7274
Item 7A. Analysis of Bids and Approval of Contract with Structural Preservation Systems, LLC, for Pepsi Ice Center Parking Structure Repairs.
Motion by Alderman Schmidt, seconded by Alderman Black the bid for Construction Services for the Pepsi Ice Center Parking Structural Repairs be awarded to Structural Preservation Systems, LLC, in the amount of $1,098,836, the contract be approved, the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary documents and any associated contracts approved in form and substance by Corporation Counsel.
The Mayor directed the clerk to call the roll which resulted in the following:
Ayes: Aldermen Stearns, Mwilambwe, Schmidt, Painter, Lower, Sage, Fruin and
Black.
Nays: None.
Somehow the costs to repair the deck are now down to $634,978 – the Council voted to modify the contract last night.
How is it possible to save $463,022?
If you believe the Pantagraph, the City has some awesome legal eagles. Today’s article doesn’t say the guys awarded the $1 Million+ contract agreed to do the work for almost $500,000 less! Is somebody else going to fix it for far less? Maybe the same guys who screwed it up in the first place? No details, but the City will have a press conference about it. Is the press going to ask? Is the City going as cheap as possible – the same strategy that caused the problems in the first place?
Previously I reported the Coliseum was never issued an occupancy permit. That means nobody inspected it or the parking garage: http://blnnews.com/2014/01/18/laws-apply-to-the-folks-not-us/
The exhaust system the taxpayers paid to fix was also part of the settlement. Mayor Renner made it sound like no big deal at the time. http://blnnews.com/2013/12/18/was-mayor-renner-covering-up-the-truth-about-the-coliseum/
Since the Pantagraph articles only report what the City wants them to say, you are supposed to be celebrating today. The City is recovering 80% of the repair costs.
For a 7 year old parking deck!
Who are the real stooges? Renner, Hales, Jergens, Pantagraph, and the Council who want you to celebrate, or the citizens who actually are?
Of course, the problems are never anybody’s fault. The Mayor changes, the Council changes, the City Manager changes. They all spend your money on whatever they think will be their legacy. Is anybody trying to collect for the unused leaky fire station on the west side?
Is it that difficult to understand you keep electing the wrong people? Maybe when Renner’s downtown hotel is sitting empty and it too leaks you will get it.
A press conference for what?
I doubt the press will ask, but how does a repair bill drop almost in half? Maybe popsicle sticks are involved.
The city would have been WAY ahead of the game by using the lot that the parking deck sits on for one level street parking and buying the old Eagles Bldg for a couple hundred thousand and razing it for parking. Probably would have had more spaces for less money. Sadly there are too many people in local government that have absolutely no idea how to effectively run a business, let alone show a profit, which is why they have no business doing this. Their track record is awful.