Fairhope, Alabama
Update: The city council subsequently re-awarded the bid as mentioned.
This post has been updated to add recent developments ... and to add a transcript (at bottom) of the renovation bid award report by library board member Randall Wright (who is also president of the non-profit Friends of the Library organization) -- from the December 6, 2023 board meeting.
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| 2nd floor to be renovated. |
HAD TO BE RE-BID
The second floor expansion project at the library has to be re-bid after it was discovered "mistakes" were made during the original bidding process overseen by the library board (but negotiated by Friends of Library organization) last December 6, according to councilman Jimmy Conyers, who is the council's representative on the board.
During the December 6, 2023 library board meeting, it was reported by board member Randall
Wright that Witherington Construction was the low bidder, of three bids submitted. Architect Mott Macdonald helped with the bids. At that time, Wright mentioned problems with the bids but said they had been rectified (see transcript below).
CITY COUNCIL SET TO AWARD BID AGAIN
The city's purchasing department conducted the bid this time; bids were opened February 6.
Witherington Construction was again the low bidder ($812K this time); the city council is expected to consider awarding the bid at the February 15, 2024 meeting.
The plan include a major expansion of "teen/youth space" upstairs with "maker space" and rooms for library technical services -- and the Friends of the Library support organizations.
The city owns the building; the board operates the library for the city.
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| Transcript of bid discussion. |