High bids for construction of a new Oxford Township hall led officials to step back and seek a more complete ‘financial picture? of exactly how much money is available for the project and what’s been spent already.
Eight bids ranging from $1,552,436 to $1.999 million were submitted by general contractors for construction of a new two-level, 14,024-square-foot municipal office complex. All of the bids significantly exceeded the township’s self-imposed spending limit of $1.335 million.
‘Our research has determined that construction costs over the past month have skyrocketed due to the two hurricanes and the increases in petroleum prices,? according to Gregory Mason, project manager with the Grand Blanc-based CHMP, Inc., the township’s architectural firm. ‘Several bidders have indicated to me that construction costs have increased an average of 15-20 percent over the past month.?
As a result, the township board Oct. 12 was presented with a summary list of 28 possible construction cost reduction measures, however, this list contained no dollar amounts.
Possible cuts and/or changes included everything from eliminating the elevator, lawn sprinklers and fire suppression system (including fire alarm) to using less costly roofing and window sill materials.
This proposed ‘shopping list? of cuts did not sit well with some board members.
‘I don’t want any of it taken off,? said Treasurer Joe Ferrari. ‘I don’t want a substandard building. If we don’t have the money, we don’t have the money.?
Ferrari said eliminating items to reduce the cost is a ‘horrible way to do things.?
‘If you don’t have the money, you don’t build it. That’s it,? he said. ‘Don’t sit there and start taking stuff out. Pretty soon, we’re just going to walk in and it’s going to be a shack.?
‘Let’s make sure we have something good that we want,? Ferrari noted.
Trustee Sue Bellairs agreed.
‘I don’t want to see us take $1.3 million and build a shack,? she said. ‘I would not be in favor of leaving this stuff out. We either can build it or we can’t build it.?
Bellairs suggested the township could always ask the voters for a millage then officials would know how the public feels.
‘If we have to put a millage up before the voters, the voters will tell us whether they want this or they don’t want it,? she said.
Clerk Clara Sanderson, who also sits on the Buildthe ing and Site Committee overseeing the new hall project, argued that officials can no longer put off building a new township hall.
‘I don’t want this township hall because I want a new building,? she said. ‘It’s because it’s necessary, it’s mandatory. It’s been in the works for years and years. We keep putting it off.?
‘Our (current) township hall is not even safe,? Sanderson explained. ‘It’s so overcrowded.?
‘It’s coming to the point where we’re just busting at the seams.?
Sanderson noted how her administrative assistant has work on the floor when she needs to spread out papers to organize meeting packets. This presents a safety hazard to those walking through, she said.
The clerk noted the cramped quarters also mean the current township hall is not handicapped accessible.
‘If a handicapped person came to see the clerk in a wheelchair, I don’t think they’d be able to get back into my office,? Sanderson said.
Which brings up the issue of counter space, of which the clerk pointed out she has none unlike the treasurer’s office or building department.
‘I’m not directly connected to the public,? Sanderson said.
Sanderson admitted building a new hall is a ‘big undertaking, but it’s (about) providing good service to our community, so that when people come in they have a space to see whoever they want to see.?
The clerk pointed out that if the board decides against building a new hall, it’s going to ‘have to come up with other alternatives to expand office space.?
‘You’re going to have to lease, rent, do something,? Sanderson said.
Bellairs agreed that a new hall is warranted. ‘I definitely believe we need the building,? she said. ‘It’s more of a need now. It isn’t a want.?
Ferrari wasn’t of like mind. ‘I agree that we could use a building, but … this here is more of a want,? the treasurer said. ‘Would I like to have a bigger building? Sure.?
As for the issue of cramped quarters, Ferrari said, ‘It’s inconvenient. That’s about it.? Like Bellairs, Ferrari also suggested putting the new township hall issue before the voters.
Sanderson suggested selling the current township hall, which she described as ‘marketable,? and using the money to provide additional funding for a new hall’s construction. In the interest of knowing all the options and having all the facts, Bellairs said officials should look into renting the current hall out.
Sanderson also reminded the board that the Water Fund also still owes money to the Building and Site Fund (a township account earmarked for the new hall).
‘What we really need for this board is to bring to you the financial picture so you can either bless it or tell us to put it on the back-burner,? she said.
‘I would like that,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘I would like to know the nuts and bolts.?
Bellairs said she would also like to know how much has been ‘spent to date? in terms of fees for the architects, engineers and lawyers. ‘I want to know everything that’s been spent.?
Township officials agreed via a consensus to have all this information gathered and presented to the board.
Trustee Charles Kniffen, who chairs the Building and Site Committee, said the financial picture can probably be presented at the board’s first meeting in November.
board that the Water Fund also still owes money to the Building and Site Fund (a township account earmarked for the construction project).
‘What we really need for this board is to bring to you the financial picture so you can either bless it or tell us to put it on the back-burner,? she said.
Bellairs said she would also like to know how much has been ‘spent to date? in terms of fees for the architects, engineers and lawyers.
‘I want to know everything that’s been spent.?
Trustee Charles Kniffen, who chairs the Building and Site Committee, said the complete financial picture can probably be presented to the board by its first meeting in November.