MONROE - After more than a year on hiatus, members of the Monroe Common Council chose a company to finish the City Hall flooring project during its first May meeting.
Fundamental Designs LLC of Monroe will complete the work for just under $103,000.
Work stalled in December 2016 after KPH Construction & Environmental of Milwaukee could not find a solution to what company contractor Dan Scharf called a moisture problem. The new tiles, meant to replace old materials removed due to cracking, were not sticking to most of the cement. KPH had been hired to remove the asbestos-based tiles and replace them for roughly $152,000.
At the meeting Tuesday, aldermen finalized a process begun by the Board of Public Works the previous day when two contract proposals sent to the city were opened for consideration. Members of the board opted to move the topic to full council without a recommendation for either company.
The city has an obligation under law to choose the lowest responsible bidder, which was Fundamental Designs. KSW Construction of Verona also submitted bids for the project.
In its request for proposals, the city outlined four options to complete the flooring project. The first option called for the original proposed plan to be done, which includes the use of carpet squares and vinyl tiles in the hallways. In the second option, the original work would be done but with the addition of an epoxy system between the cement and flooring materials instead of basic adhesive. The third option called for carpet stretched across an area in one piece and vinyl non-shifting planks glued to the perimeter of any space. The fourth option was similar to the third, but cement throughout the building would be polished in areas like council chambers, the fire station, parks and recreation department and engineering department, with carpet and planks added to the remaining space.
Fundamental Designs quoted roughly $103,000 for option no. 1, $191,000 for option no. 2, $103,000 for option no. 3 and $97,000 for option no. 4. KSW estimated about $119,000 for option no. 1, $228,000 for option no. 2, $119,000 for option no. 3 and $112,000 for option no. 4.
City Administrator Phil Rath said the contract attorney Jeff Younger, who was retained by the city to navigate possible legal action against KPH after council members declared the company at fault for the tiles not adhering to the sub-floor, said the original option would give the city the best defense in a possible lawsuit.
Any costs already accrued by KPH during the initial months of the project would have to be regained through legal action by the city. If the council had chosen the second option from either company, Rath said the recuperated costs would be less than the total cost of the new work.
Rath added that Younger felt he could make an argument regardless of the option chosen by the city.
Alderman Michael Boyce asked Director of Public Works Al Gerber for a recommendation. Gerber advised the city to proceed with the original proposed work. He noted stretch carpet can later warp and cause tripping hazards and that polished concrete tends to give the appearance of a warehouse.
Fellow council member Chris Beer pointed to the problems KPH experienced with initial plans.
"If we went with the original option, how do we know they'll be able to make it work?" Beer asked.
Rath said Fundamental Designs had visited City Hall more than twice and evaluated the space. KSW had also visited the building. He said contractor comments regarding the cleaning process and the fact that both companies offered to complete those plans were good indicators of confidence in the proposed work. The city requested in its proposal that the work be completed within 30 days once it begins.
Mayor Louis Armstrong echoed the sentiment and encouraged any members of the council who were to vote against current options to present a better one.
All eight council members present voted in favor of the first option bid from Fundamental Designs for $102,950. Alderman Jeff Newcomer was absent.
Fundamental Designs LLC of Monroe will complete the work for just under $103,000.
Work stalled in December 2016 after KPH Construction & Environmental of Milwaukee could not find a solution to what company contractor Dan Scharf called a moisture problem. The new tiles, meant to replace old materials removed due to cracking, were not sticking to most of the cement. KPH had been hired to remove the asbestos-based tiles and replace them for roughly $152,000.
At the meeting Tuesday, aldermen finalized a process begun by the Board of Public Works the previous day when two contract proposals sent to the city were opened for consideration. Members of the board opted to move the topic to full council without a recommendation for either company.
The city has an obligation under law to choose the lowest responsible bidder, which was Fundamental Designs. KSW Construction of Verona also submitted bids for the project.
In its request for proposals, the city outlined four options to complete the flooring project. The first option called for the original proposed plan to be done, which includes the use of carpet squares and vinyl tiles in the hallways. In the second option, the original work would be done but with the addition of an epoxy system between the cement and flooring materials instead of basic adhesive. The third option called for carpet stretched across an area in one piece and vinyl non-shifting planks glued to the perimeter of any space. The fourth option was similar to the third, but cement throughout the building would be polished in areas like council chambers, the fire station, parks and recreation department and engineering department, with carpet and planks added to the remaining space.
Fundamental Designs quoted roughly $103,000 for option no. 1, $191,000 for option no. 2, $103,000 for option no. 3 and $97,000 for option no. 4. KSW estimated about $119,000 for option no. 1, $228,000 for option no. 2, $119,000 for option no. 3 and $112,000 for option no. 4.
City Administrator Phil Rath said the contract attorney Jeff Younger, who was retained by the city to navigate possible legal action against KPH after council members declared the company at fault for the tiles not adhering to the sub-floor, said the original option would give the city the best defense in a possible lawsuit.
Any costs already accrued by KPH during the initial months of the project would have to be regained through legal action by the city. If the council had chosen the second option from either company, Rath said the recuperated costs would be less than the total cost of the new work.
Rath added that Younger felt he could make an argument regardless of the option chosen by the city.
Alderman Michael Boyce asked Director of Public Works Al Gerber for a recommendation. Gerber advised the city to proceed with the original proposed work. He noted stretch carpet can later warp and cause tripping hazards and that polished concrete tends to give the appearance of a warehouse.
Fellow council member Chris Beer pointed to the problems KPH experienced with initial plans.
"If we went with the original option, how do we know they'll be able to make it work?" Beer asked.
Rath said Fundamental Designs had visited City Hall more than twice and evaluated the space. KSW had also visited the building. He said contractor comments regarding the cleaning process and the fact that both companies offered to complete those plans were good indicators of confidence in the proposed work. The city requested in its proposal that the work be completed within 30 days once it begins.
Mayor Louis Armstrong echoed the sentiment and encouraged any members of the council who were to vote against current options to present a better one.
All eight council members present voted in favor of the first option bid from Fundamental Designs for $102,950. Alderman Jeff Newcomer was absent.