COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The construction of a permanent downtown public restroom building is on Monday night’s Coldwater City Council agenda.
Coldwater City Manager Keith Baker says in his memo to the Council that at their direction, the City solicited design alternatives and construction bids for the project. Local architect Scott Morrison of S. Allen Design prepared construction drawings and handled the bidding and solicitation process.
Bids were opened on February 2 but Baker reports that due to labor shortages and contractor availability, only one complete bid was submitted. That bid for $182,500.00 was submitted by Brusse/Brady of Three Rivers. The bid did not include about $15,000 in utility work.
Upon receipt and review of the bid, the City directed Morrison to solicit a bid on a simpler design as well as the original design. If the City Council would prefer to proceed with construction of the restrooms yet this spring, staff recommends proceeding with the original design with a total cost of $197,500.
There is a $23,700 difference in the original bid and the most basic alternate design, but according to Baker, the staff believes the difference in cost would be justified in contrast to what would be given up in aesthetic quality and appearance long term of the original design.
He adds the rectangular design also provides greater visibility and sense of openness through the alley from the Tibbits Plaza parking lot to South Monroe Street.
Another option the City Council can pursue if they want delay construction is a grant program that the restrooms would possibly qualify for.
It’s believed the city can request $50,000 to potentially reduce the overall cost of the project. The awarding of the grant is set for October.
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