Maries R-1 board accepts bond project bid

By Colin Willard, Advocate Staff Writer
Posted 8/14/24

VIENNA — The Maries R-1 Board of Education reviewed bids for upcoming facilities projects at its July 23 meeting.

Bidding opened for a package of projects at the district after voters …

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Maries R-1 board accepts bond project bid

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VIENNA — The Maries R-1 Board of Education reviewed bids for upcoming facilities projects at its July 23 meeting.

Bidding opened for a package of projects at the district after voters passed Proposition K.I.D.S., a $2 million bond proposal, in April.

During the meeting, Cameron Schweiss with the engineering firm Archer-Elgin joined the board to discuss the bids. After the company worked on the district’s elementary electrical project last summer, the administration reached out to see if Archer-Elgin would help get the bond-funded projects on track. Working together, the school and the company assembled a bid package for some of the high-priority projects.

The district received bids from three contractors: Alexander Construction in Rolla, Reese Equipment Company in Dixon and Thomas Construction in Osage Beach. Each contractor provided a base bid and alternative bids on three additional projects.

Base bids included sealcoating the campus parking lots and applying pavement markings. The bid also included sidewalk repairs, exterior envelope work, some window and exterior door replacements and new rooftop HVAC units.

Alexander Construction had the lowest base bid at $703,603.39 followed by Reese Equipment Company at $733,071.39 and $743.928.54 from Thomas Construction.

The first alternate bid included renovations for two restrooms and the replacement of sink carriers in a third restroom. Alexander Construction had the lowest bid at $259,562 followed by Reese Equipment Company at $298,187.09 and Thomas Construction at $412,907.

The second alternate bid included ceiling and lighting replacements in the elementary school wing. Thomas Construction had the lowest bid at $123,086 followed by Alexander Construction at $127,841.40 and Reese Equipment Company at $131,934.88.

The third alternate bid included a standalone fire alarm system in the elementary school. Alexander Construction had the lowest bid at $23,320 followed by Thomas Construction at $32,345 and Reese Equipment at $34,486.20.

Superintendent Teresa Messersmith said she contacted references for Alexander Construction and received great feedback. The board voted to accept Alexander Construction’s entire bid, including the three additional projects. The total cost of the bid was $1,114,326.79.

One of the board’s planned projects that it omitted from the bidding process was the tuckpointing of the brick and repairs to the flashing around the high school gym. Bidding for those projects will occur later. Schweiss recommended an investigative report to give more detailed recommendations on what needs to happen with the roof.

Messersmith compiled a list of costs the board has allocated to various projects. Including the cost for Alexander’s Construction bid, the district has allocated approximately $1,642,726 of the $2 million bond. The other costs include a new cafeteria boiler system ($111,750), engineering and architecture fees ($129,800) and new elementary school gym flooring ($26,850). The estimate also includes a 10 percent contingency for the construction bid.

During the meeting, the board also reviewed bids for other services. The first was for the elementary school gym flooring. The board accepted the lowest bid of $12,650 from Mid-MO Epoxy. The other bid was $16,500 from Capital Epoxy Floors.

Next, the board accepted the only bid it received for bread. G&W Foods bid the same prices as last year’s contract with the district. The district will pay $1.99 for whole grain sandwich loaf bread, $2.29 for 12-count whole grain hamburger buns and $1.99 for eight-count whole grain hot dog buns.

The board also accepted the lone bid it received for milk. Hiland Dairy bid $0.4458 for half-pints of 1 percent milk, $0.4508 for half-pints of 1 percent chocolate milk, $0.3210 for 4 oz. orange juice and $0.2900 for 4 oz. apple juice. The price of pints of milk increased slightly from last year. Messersmith estimated that the cost would come at an increase of about $500 to the district for the year.

Finally, the board reviewed bids for propane. AA Propane bid $1.15 per gallon. Lock’s Mill Propane, Inc. bid $1.125 per gallon. The board approved the lowest bid from Lock’s Mill Propane. The new rate is 8.5 cents more per gallon, which Messersmith estimated would cost the district about $2,500 for the year.