Finance Committee - 6/20/2018 Page 2
but if somebody had a good excuse and say “I lost it” are we missing a potential opportunity? So my question
directly is what is our procedure when this occurs in the bidding process?
Ms. Marchant
| would like to hand that over to the purchasing manager.
Dan Kooken, Purchasing Manager
I’d like to answer that. It is unfortunate. We could re-bid if we felt it was necessary, but they lost the bid and
the other person came in at a higher price, so they are the low bidder, they are the current supplier and costs
have went up on diesel particularly since our volume is going down.
Alderman O’Brien
| am satisfied, | just wonder if there was a potentially difference in the pricing. It appears not, it is what it is with
biofuel | am sure.
Ms. Marchant
And our volume is going down very significantly because our buses are now CNG and they were biodiesel so
there’s a massive drop here in volume which would also equal a little bit higher price per gallon.
MOTION CARRIED
From: Dan Kooken, Purchasing Manager
Re: Heritage Rail Trail Connection to Mine Falls Park (Value $502,623)
MOTION BY ALDERWOMAN KELLY TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND AWARD THE CONTRACT TO
GEORGE CAIRNS & SONS, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $502,623. SOURCE OF FUNDING IS
DEPARTMENT 181, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; DOT GRANT
ON THE QUESTION
Mayor Donchess
Ms. Marchant is here on this, maybe you could give an explanation of this item?
Ms. Marchant
Sure, this is the Heritage Rail Trail project originally was a half million dollar grant in 2014 to connect the
Heritage Rail Trail down Everett Street with an ADA compliant ramp, a separated way down Everett Street and
a crosswalk at Ledge and a new pedestrian bridge over the canal into Mine Falls Park. This project, due to the
length of time and permitting went out to bid this Spring twice. The bids came back higher than anticipated.
As such, we were able to talk to DOT and then Federal Highway and then ask for additional funds because
several other TAP grants that went out in the region also came back significantly higher than anticipated as
construction costs have risen significantly.
So we were able to secure additional funding from Federal Highway and DOT to help offset these additional
costs and the rest is here before you.
Alderwoman Kelly
Thank you Mr. Mayor. So to clarify, we had half a million and now we are adding an additional half a million
through this grant?
