Construction contract to be awarded tonight

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- It may not be the largest construction contract awarded by the New Ulm City Council, but awarding a $9,726,600 contract that's $465,400 under budget will certainly be the most fun.

Action in accepting the low bid submitted by Heymann Construction Co. of New Ulm for building the new Fairgrounds Community Center, expanding the Senior Center and renovating Vogel Arena won't come until the council is well into its agenda tonight.

With only one recommended change on the table, the council won't have to deliberate long in accepting the bid. City Manager Brian Gramentz is recommending the council not approve one deduct alternate, restoring the $64,000 carbon monoxide venting and controls system in the Community Center.

"Restoring the system would give us greater flexibility in shopping for Zambonis for the ice rinks," Gramentz explained, during an bid analysis meeting Monday with architect Ted Rozeboom of Rozeboom, Miller Architects, Minneapolis. "Without the system, we would be limited to using electric Zambonis; this would give us more bargaining room in buying machines."

Gramentz also recommended the council not be in a hurry to add items not included in the low bid in an attempt to use the $465,400.

"While we still have the 5 percent contingency, my experience with construction projects like this indicates that there will be a number of things showing up during the course of construction," he explained. "We're also in the process of updating all the numbers so that you'll have the latest figures, and there are a number of small items that may be discussed during the construction period."

One number that went far beyond projections was for printing and mailing construction documents to prospective bidders.

"It cost $55,000 for printing and mailing 180 sets" of construction documents, Rozeboom said. "Can you imagine that?"

Councilor Clark Tuttle noted the mere fact the construction bid came in under budget doesn't mean "there's a pot of money there to be used. It means we don't have to use as much money from the general fund."

Rozeboom suggested the council stay flexible because "there are three additions to think about as construction progresses. Those are an acoustic upgrade for the performing arts portion of the Senior Center project, as well as a "reclad" of the existing center even though there's money in the construction budget for repainting and some landscaping items.

"All three can wait until the end of construction," Rozeboom said.

Another piece of good news for the council is that, as a result of the mild winter thus far, Heymann plans to start construction in January. The Community Center construction and Senior Center expansion are scheduled for completion in March, 2003, and the Vogel Arena renovation 90 days thereafter.

"I really believe we'll beat that date," Rozeboom said.

The council also must approve the city's 2002 budget which totals $11,809,592, as well as a total property tax levy of $3,068,502. The final budget envisions some $70,000 in additional spending over the preliminary budget received by the council in September.

Also on the agenda, up for a public hearing and approval of final assessment roll, are one project in 2001 Street Improvements--Group II and a raft of projects under 2001 Utility, Street and Alley Improvements.

Also up for approval is the preliminary alignment of the proposed New Ulm Recreational Trail for constructing the 4.9-mile Phase I.