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Mounds View City Council January 9, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 4 <br /> <br />prefab buildings. He advised that the Park and Recreation Commission researched those options 1 <br />and contacted many colleges to see if there was interest in constructing the building. Two groups 2 <br />expressed interest in helping the City in this aspect. Public Works Director Lee explained that 3 <br />when working with the two entities it was determined that while both schools could construct the 4 <br />building, there are a lot of aspects they cannot do like demolition, grading, setting trusses, final 5 <br />grading, steel doors and frames, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc. Public Works Director Lee 6 <br />advised that in discussion with the schools, staff came to the conclusion that the City would need 7 <br />to hire a general contractor to do a building replacement project. The City could go out for bids 8 <br />and take the lowest bidder or could hire a general contractor and contractors for the individual 9 <br />components. He pointed that St. Paul Technical College only does stick construction and to 10 <br />convert the plans to stick construction would cost $9,000 to $10,000. 11 <br /> 12 <br />Public Works Director Lee advised that Dakota Technical College does masonry projects and 13 <br />staff is still working with them. Staff recommends the City go out for bids on the project and 14 <br />include specs that the Dakota Technical College would be used by the contractor for free labor on 15 <br />the masonry part of the project. He noted that may result in lower bids and the general contractor 16 <br />may or may not use them depending on whether the schedules work. Public Works Director Lee 17 <br />stated staff recommends rebidding the project and to embark on an informational campaign to get 18 <br />the project information to smaller contractors. 19 <br /> 20 <br />Councilmember Stigney asked if the bids will be received or opened on February 21, 2006. 21 <br />Public Works Director Lee stated they will be both received and opened on that date at the 22 <br />Community Center. 23 <br /> 24 <br />Councilmember Flaherty asked if the same plans can be rebid with added value engineering 25 <br />included so the contractors know the City will listen to their ideas for cost savings. Public Works 26 <br />Director Lee stated that is a good suggestion and advised that staff is working with one contractor 27 <br />who does metal buildings. 28 <br /> 29 <br />Councilmember Flaherty stated he is unsure of the liability or bonding issues when using a 30 <br />technical school and student labor. 31 <br /> 32 <br />Mayor Marty asked if they would operate under the City’s liability insurance. Public Works 33 <br />Director Lee stated that is correct and there may be other issues when students work with 34 <br />contractors, such as with the plumbing contractor since the plumbing is in the walls. 35 <br /> 36 <br />Councilmember Gunn stated her support to consider the use of free student labor and indicated 37 <br />that she hopes it will result in a “plus/plus” situation where students gain experience in working 38 <br />with a contractor, and the bids are lower. 39 <br /> 40 <br />Mayor Marty stated his support to get the word out to smaller contractors. Public Works 41 <br />Director Lee stated since June of last year staff has compiled a list of contractors who indicated 42 <br />an interest in bidding on this project. 43 <br /> 44 <br />Councilmember Gunn stated the technical school might also have a list of contractors who are 45