With the hope that construction prices will be more in the township’s favor this winter, the Orion Township Board of Trustees rejected current bids for the Clarkston Road safety path project and pushing construction back until spring.
The board learned on Aug. 4 that the township had received only two bids back on the project, one from Dan’s Excavating, Inc. for $711,188, and one from The Oakland Excavating Company for $778,279.
Parks and recreation director Rock Blanchard recommended the board reject the bids and rebid the project this winter, under the advisement of the township’s engineering firm Orchard, Hiltz and McCliment.
Treasurer James Marleau said that one of the bids received was below the estimated amounts given to the township by OHM, and wondered why the township should reject it.
“The explanation I got from (OHM),” said Blanchard. “Is the one low bid was charging a very high bid for a grading station…in the climate, it was not a great time to bid it, but because it was a federal project this is when we could get it out to bid.”
Blanchard said the township has gotten more than two bids for safety path projects in the past and that it’s hard to compare with only two bids.
The Clarkston Road project is to run on the south side from Joslyn to Baldwin. The township was approved for a grant to help fund part of the project, and Blanchard said pushing the bid schedule back should not put that money in jeopardy.
“We want to make sure we don’t lose this money…this is a crucial portion of our safety path system,” said clerk Jill Bastian.
“Originally, (the path) was to be built by Oct ober 2003 (to qualify for the grant),” Blanchard said. “But there’s been some changes, and the money is locked right now.”
Trustee Michael Gingell said there was not guarantee that prices would be any better when the project was rebid in the winter.
“Mr. Gingell may be correct about the climate, and there’s no guarantee here,” Blanchard said. “But our information tells us it would be wise to rebid it.”
OHM engineer Matt Pilarz told the board that winter is the prime time for construction bidding.
“One of the benefits you’d expect is now you’re in the heart of the construction season,” he said. “They’re not making this their prime time for bidding. Winter is the time. That’s when the job would be bid, for spring construction.”