■ Four of five projects get proposals outside budget, leading trustees to hit pause button
By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor
Because the Benicia Unified School District received so few bids for most of its planned renovation of Liberty High School and the district office — and none within budget — trustees on Thursday opted to cast a wider net.
The school board approved a bid by Syserco Inc., of Petaluma, to install an energy management system for the building at 350 East K St. But it followed the advice of Chief Business Officer Tim Rahill in rejecting bids for four other items — toilet room alterations, re-roofing, window replacement and landscaping — as part of a long-planned sustainability upgrade.
Of the rejected bids, “unfortunately those all came in above our budgeted amount, and we would like to go out and rebid those four pieces and do an expanded advertisement to solicit additional interested parties,” Rahill said.
He said for some projects there was only one bid, and in other cases the bids were significantly higher than the budget.
“We’re working with our architect to fine-tune some of the bid aspects and again to do additional outreach to get additional bidders on this second round,” he said.
Trustee André Stewart voiced concerns that the architect was designing something beyond the budget. “I would be leery now of a bid that does meet our budget,” he said.
But Rahill was unconcerned about that. “I think it will be worth our while to expand our advertisement of these projects, which was limited to the communities closest here to Benicia. We’re hopeful, as the architect is, that additional bidders will come closer in to the budget.”
How much over budget were the bids? Stewart asked.
“In some cases they were twice the budget,” Rahill said. “It was due to in one case, just a single bidder.”
Trustee Steve Messina wanted to know why there was so few bids. “How did we advertise the bids?” he asked. “How many people actually looked at the package and didn’t return bids?”
Maintenance and Operations Supervisor Roy Owens answered that the bid package and blueprints were available electronically and that outreach had been made. “We had multiple people walk the bid, it’s just that the people that turned in the actual bids were minimal,” he said.
“Did any of them offer comments as to why the declined to bid?” Messina asked.
“No,” Owens said.
The approved Syserco bid is for $39,994.
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Let them beware of getting only what they pay for. Or don’t pay for, as the case may be.
Mr. Shelby –
How much should Benicia spend on these items? Where should the money come from? Given our budget constraints, over spending on one budget item means cutting another item. What would you cut Mr. Shelby?
Robert you are right. Get to that free dinner, lunch and breakfast place you leaches go to. Man talk about taking advantage. Bobbie you are the best. I undestand you have a newsletter telling everyone of your Liberals where to go to get a freebie. Bobbie you should be ashamed of yourself..
Don’t mind Bob. He’s just lashing out because the election has gone so horribly wrong for him and he can’t figure out what to do about that rat’s nest on his head.
Space Cadet Mike/Annie or better yet Crusader Rabbit at it again. No answers just garbage. Well Space Cadet what will your nasty answer now be. Bobbie AA Shelby has no clue. Tom and RKJ do know what day of the week it is.
Blob, what do you want people in Benicia to remember you for? I’ll always remember that mane of hair that grew all the way down to your trousers
Believe me Space Cadet they are and will remeber me . As far as yourself goes it will not happen. Nameless Space Patrol folks can not and will not be around. Now go off to Detroit and join Louie on a flight. That we would remember and be very pleased about. Board your ship Crusader Rabbitt it has been fun.
So we are going to spend $40,000 for an energy management system but nothing to upgrade an antiquated building? Why not spend the $40K on double pane windows or additional insulation?
What is the ROI on the energy management system without any efficiency upgrades?
Wonder what the Economic Development Board has to say about not using a local contractor. After all, we’re all being encouraged to buy locally.
Why are we worried about budget? Isn’t the funding for this coming from the Valero Good Neighbor Slush Fund? We didn’t worry about budget or ROI on the solar farms. Why start now?
Perhaps Bob Langston was correct in expressing concerns over how the Slush Fund monies were being spent. As he said on numerous occasions, “When the Valero funds are gone, they are gone!”
Energy management system :
Turn the lights off when you leave the room.
Turn the furnace on when it is cold and off when it is not.
Is there a need for more ?
Toilet room alterations, re-roofing, window replacement and landscaping :
Patch the roof, caulk the windows, do the landscaping
These are hard times have volunteers and students do what they can, put a name on it like community service.