HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 02-17 Councilmen irked on cost over-run for Beam Avenue THE REVIEW Councilmen irked
on cost over-run
for Beam avenue
by Scott Carlson section,he noted.
Cost over-runs for the grading and "You still got a product,"he said.
paving of Beam avenue from Hazelwood Murphy also said there were some
avenue to Highway 61,totalling nearly alterations in other contracts which
$50,000 have raised the ire of the reduced total costs.
Maplewood city council. But Councilmen Burton Murdock was
Although they approved two sup- dissatisfied with the firm's explanations.
plemental agreements for the road work "I'll be damned if it was our own staff it
last Thursday night,the councilmen left would be different,"he said. "But this
little doubt that they were highly (the engineering firm) is the private
irritated. And their bitterness was sector.
directed toward the Howard, Needles, He later added,"If I(in my business)
Tammen and Bergendoff engineering blow it it costs me.But when the city pays
firm, which is in charge of the road someone and they blow it the city still
construction. pays."
"I have a great deal of concern that With the council in this frame of mind it
Beam avenue has cost us a fortune and we then proceeded to renegotiation of
haven't established the assessments," engineering agreements with Howard,
Mayor Robert Bruton said."It disturbs Needles,Tammen and Bergendoff.
me to see a 10 percent addition on one The firm stated that because of escalat-
contract and a four percent addition on ting costs it wants to raise the surcharge
the other." rate for work on the five projects in-
An extra $26,370 was approved for eluding Beam avenue between Hazelwood
payment to C. S. McCrossan, Inc. for and Highway 61.
grading and paving of Beam avenue from The engineering firm,in its letters to
Highway 61 to Hazelwood avenue. A the city, explained that the surcharge
second supplemental agreement okays a rates were more than two years old.
payment of $20,678 to Minn-Kota Compensation to the firm is based on
Excavating. direct salary cost plus a surcharge.
When pressed by the council on how But Mayor Bruton pointed out that the
much the entire Beam Avenue project has council ordered one of the projects nearly
cost the city,engineering representative four years ago.And he felt it is in the best
Jim Murphy said,"I would say it is over interests of the engineering firm to delay
$2 million." completion of contracts.
Bruton complained that another Murdock suggested that Maplewood
bidder might have recognized that the check into the possibility of a joint powers
road needed more materials than outlined engineering agreement with communities
in specifications and might have had a like Roseville and North St.Paul.
higher bid to reflect that assumption. Bobby D. Collier, Maplewood public
Murphy explained the road was works director, said that in some in-
designed to be built in one permanent stances the engineering firm could not
section but that the plans changed when help that strikes occurred, thus sub-
allowances were made for construction of stantially delaying some of the projects.
a bridge.The road was designed then in The council tabled action to renegotiate
two sections with one being a temporary the rates with the engineering firm.
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REIGNING OVER Snow Daze activities at North high school last week were, back
row: Ron Pearson and Jerry Allen; front row, from left: Jill Brenner, Kathy Van-
DenBoom, Mike Henry and Sandy Schikel.
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AMONG SNOW DAZE activities at North high school last week was the hilarious Tug
of War, perhaps enjoyed more by the audience than by the participants.
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