The actual lowest bidder was $80,000 lower than Poindexter, but was not INDOT certified. Which was one of the requirements of the bid. Mark Richards director of CDS noted to the Parks Board that the board could make an exception, by the rules of the contract, which Greenwood could choose to select or refuse a bidder in whole or in part of any contract. Richards also noted that the INDOT requirement was not necessary in this particular contract.
Norman Taylor is the estimating manager for Poindexter Excavating spoke to the Parks Board and said that everyone knew the qualifications required on the bid sheet. After loosing a lucrative contract with Greenwood in 2007 because of a missing document. Taylor noted that when his estimators, such as Gary Sparks in this case, puts together a bid package he personally checks every aspect of that package to make sure it is accurate and contains all the required items.
In Tracy Trails contract bidding, “the first sheet plainly states the requirements of the bidder,” Taylor said also adding “It says in bold type ALL and MUST”, referring to the requirements list of the bidders sheet. Which among other items stated that the bidder MUST be INDOT certified.
Mike Sawa Board President stated, “We will not make exceptions for anyone. If we do for this guy then the next contract someone can whine that we made an exception for him so he wants us to make one for him. Then we have some real problems.” The two board members, Dietrich and Bair, who were present, agreed promptly, Bridges was absent.
Taylor and Sparks were cheery when leaving, and expects to begin excavating around March next spring. The probable starting point will be the south end says Taylor. Length of construction depends on weather as with all construction projects.
But Another year before construction(March 2009)
Repeated Delays by Park Board Dragging feet
costing Citizens ... Tracy Trails Overpass bridges lost one
Delays have cost the Tracy Trails one Bridge over pass and the Board continues to flirt with delays by failing to approve which Bridge they wish to spend the funds presently available on. The Smith Valley or US31 overpass bridge are the two choices yet the board still stumbles in making the decision, when attorney Jay Isenberg pointed out that the board could still approve which bridge to approve for construction without the final figures. Another potential problem is that the board is going to ask the state for another change in scope for the T-11 Grant money. They have asked the state for changes before on this grant and as they ponder time away, the cost rises and has cost Greenwood the price of one Bridge already. Now with the 1.2 million it is estimated that the board will still have to cough up 20% in matching funds just to pay for one bridge. Springer director of Parks noted that they could find the money but the board still put it off until the next meeting…again.
This has been the pattern for the entire project of this grant money, which the Parks Board was granted the funds two years ago and has failed to act. Now 1.2 million will not buy much more than half of what it would have two years ago. Yet the board seeming drags its feet, even after the city attorney advises them they can proceed.
While the trails will finally get started next spring they will be useless unless connected to the inner city, as promised by the board to the pro-Freedom park supporters. The parks Board have no logical reason for failing to act the past two years and the reluctance has cost Greenwood taxpayers. The countless delays are to the point of Greenwood paying twice as much to get the bridges built.
Geotechnical Boring will began soon in the areas for the overpass Bridges. According to an advisor to the parks board the results will be good for as long as they need, as long as the bridges are not moved.
Geotechnical Boring is an INDOT requirement and must be done to stay inline for state approval. Also know as plugging will include Hydrologic data of the area. Possibly including Lithology descriptions, minerals, water tables and other pertinent data used in construction. Basically to the layman, it tells you what the ground is like your going to build on. Although not 100% accurate (average 95%) it is widely used because of its invaluable data for knowledge of the foundation base.