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Contract talks falter on Ashland library project By Sara Murphy ASHLAND � Faced with a Wednesday deadline, the city couldn�t reach a contract agreement with a Eugene construction company to renovate and expand the Carnegie library. After talking for two months with 2G Construction to whittle the contractor�s too-high low bid down to the $4.1 million budget, city staff now plan to send the project out for a second round of bids � pushing the start date back about four months. "It�s going to be cleaner this way," said City Administrator Greg Scoles. The city and SERA Architecture began negotiating with 2G in November, after the construction cooperative submitted the lowest of three bids � at about $571,000 over budget. Last month, the City Council directed staff to continue negotiating with 2G, and the company extended its bid deadline from Dec. 24 to Wednesday. By all accounts, the talks were going well � and 2G had offered a list to knock about $585,000 off the project�s costs � when the deal ran out of time. Scoles said the architects needed more time to redraw the plans with the modified specifications, which would allow 2G to guarantee its price but also required another deadline extension. Paul Theisen, an estimator and project manager with 2G, said the company extended its bid until Wednesday in good faith, but wanted a written notice of intent to sign a contract before continuing the project again this week. "We just needed to know whether they were going to go on with the project or not," Theisen said. "It�s like asking people to do work for free." He said he was surprised and disappointed by the city�s decision to reopen bidding, but says 2G plans to bid again. City officials say they hope that happens. The second bid process, they say, will be good for the contractor and the city � ensuring that both parties know what to expect. "It�ll certainly leave you with a better project and less chance of change orders," said Mayor Alan DeBoer. "It�s my belief that the taxpayers are going to save money. Time will tell." DeBoer said he expects the new bid packet to be ready in 60 to 90 days. Allowing another 40 days for the bid process, the city is looking at opening the bids in mid-May, he said. Construction could begin in June. Though the library project has been controversial in recent months over issues of cost, scale, parking and trees, DeBoer said reopening the bids should be a speed bump rather than a detour in the library�s future. "Certainly we had clear direction from the council (on Dec. 12) to move forward and sign a contract and we�re moving on that course," said DeBoer, who took office Jan. 2. Councilman David Fine, an attorney, said the current body has "absolutely no commitment" to the policy decision of the outgoing council, however. He views the failed negotiations as an opportunity for the council to re-evaluate its direction. "Do we cheapen the project and stay on the current site, or do we attempt to get the same value as the original project by moving the library to another site?" he asked. Changing the plans are out of the question for Cameron Hanson, another returning councilman. Hanson said he�s not opposed to sending the project out for new bids but feels the council needs to stick with the current plan. "We put a design out there that the citizens voted on and that design has been voted on twice," he said. "I�m not sure that we can come along now and change it." Friends of the Ashland Library President Barbara Ryberg says she feels comfortable the council won�t change the plans. "It�s out of their hands," she said. "This is no longer a council issue." At this point, Ryberg said, library supporters just need to be patient while the city finds a contractor. "I don�t view this as a critical setback at all," she said. "I think it�s annoying and I wish it hadn�t happened, but I have confidence that the people in charge will do a good job. "If it takes a little extra time, it takes a little extra time." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Sara Murphy at 482-4655, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.