MONROE - Renovations to remove asbestos-based flooring at City Hall remain stalled as the city awaits an explanation on whether the construction company failed to complete the work or an unforeseen problem was the cause.
The project, which began in mid-August, was meant to only displace workers for six weeks. But after more than five months of attempted repairs and negotiations, Monroe Common Council members declared contracted KPH Construction and Environmental of Milwaukee at fault for failure to complete the work. That action triggered an investigation by Liberty Mutual, the insurance company funding work through KPH, which has yet to be concluded.
With the ongoing project now creeping into its 10th month, city administrator Phil Rath and city attorney Dan Bartholf requested an update on June 5 due to a lack of news since the beginning of May.
Rath said he received a response on June 7 as anticipated, but the information was not new.
"I didn't get the indication they had the answer yet," Rath said. "It didn't give us any more information at this point. There was nothing significant that tells us what we can do."
Problems with replacement flooring began in early October. Interior renovations of the building were scheduled to remove asbestos from floor tile in the decades-old building, but KPH contractors ran into a moisture problem.
A new product meant to solve the issue was installed in December. City workers were anticipating a move-in date of Dec. 15, but tiles again either refused to stick to the ground in some places or adhered too well in others.
During a council meeting in late December, KPH contractor Dan Scharf asked for a $163,000 change order to bring in new sub-flooring material called VersaShield and cover the cost of additional labor by company workers to fix the still-unknown cause of the problem. The council refused the offer, even after Scharf reduced the order to $141,000. The city originally budgeted $150,000 for the project.
After requesting a better estimate be proposed during an additional council meeting the following week, Scharf returned with an offer outlining three options. The city could install VersaShield for an additional $43,000, use an adhesive system recommended by Scharf with additional guarantees for $56,000, or include a $15,000 cement core test with either of the first two options.
Council members denied all choices.
Instead, officials mandated KPH verify through an independent company that asbestos cleanup was performed correctly.
Rath said two sets of tests were conducted with material taken from City Hall, though no results have been given to city officials. He indicated that the city had hoped for recurring communication.
"I understand they may not have answers, but I'd rather them tell us something than speculate," Rath said.
Rath noted the frustration caused by a project anticipated to be minor. While filing cabinets and boxes previously loaded onto storage trailers are moved back into City Hall, sitting empty and bereft of flooring material, some furniture remains on the lone trailer outside. City staff remain scattered in makeshift offices throughout a number of municipal buildings.
"We're just dealing with this project as we can," Rath said. "We had to be able to function."
Discussion of the flooring project will occur during the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, per a request by alderman Tom Miller on June 6. Rath said the group "will likely discuss" how to move forward.
The project, which began in mid-August, was meant to only displace workers for six weeks. But after more than five months of attempted repairs and negotiations, Monroe Common Council members declared contracted KPH Construction and Environmental of Milwaukee at fault for failure to complete the work. That action triggered an investigation by Liberty Mutual, the insurance company funding work through KPH, which has yet to be concluded.
With the ongoing project now creeping into its 10th month, city administrator Phil Rath and city attorney Dan Bartholf requested an update on June 5 due to a lack of news since the beginning of May.
Rath said he received a response on June 7 as anticipated, but the information was not new.
"I didn't get the indication they had the answer yet," Rath said. "It didn't give us any more information at this point. There was nothing significant that tells us what we can do."
Problems with replacement flooring began in early October. Interior renovations of the building were scheduled to remove asbestos from floor tile in the decades-old building, but KPH contractors ran into a moisture problem.
A new product meant to solve the issue was installed in December. City workers were anticipating a move-in date of Dec. 15, but tiles again either refused to stick to the ground in some places or adhered too well in others.
During a council meeting in late December, KPH contractor Dan Scharf asked for a $163,000 change order to bring in new sub-flooring material called VersaShield and cover the cost of additional labor by company workers to fix the still-unknown cause of the problem. The council refused the offer, even after Scharf reduced the order to $141,000. The city originally budgeted $150,000 for the project.
After requesting a better estimate be proposed during an additional council meeting the following week, Scharf returned with an offer outlining three options. The city could install VersaShield for an additional $43,000, use an adhesive system recommended by Scharf with additional guarantees for $56,000, or include a $15,000 cement core test with either of the first two options.
Council members denied all choices.
Instead, officials mandated KPH verify through an independent company that asbestos cleanup was performed correctly.
Rath said two sets of tests were conducted with material taken from City Hall, though no results have been given to city officials. He indicated that the city had hoped for recurring communication.
"I understand they may not have answers, but I'd rather them tell us something than speculate," Rath said.
Rath noted the frustration caused by a project anticipated to be minor. While filing cabinets and boxes previously loaded onto storage trailers are moved back into City Hall, sitting empty and bereft of flooring material, some furniture remains on the lone trailer outside. City staff remain scattered in makeshift offices throughout a number of municipal buildings.
"We're just dealing with this project as we can," Rath said. "We had to be able to function."
Discussion of the flooring project will occur during the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, per a request by alderman Tom Miller on June 6. Rath said the group "will likely discuss" how to move forward.