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$459K for bigger parking lot
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · July 24, 2014


Bids for a bigger west parking lot at the high school came in a bit higher than the $450,000 architects estimated in May, but the West Branch Board of Education accepted a $459,000 bid from All American Concrete of West Liberty.


The bid approval at the July school board meeting marks the first major project started under the school district’s new 15-year capital improvement plan.

“This is exciting,” Board President Kathy Knoop said. “It is the first step in the future look of the district.”

Superintendent Kevin Hatfield said the high school parking lot was one of the first things he was asked to address when he came to West Branch.

“It’s important to complete this in the right way,” he said. “I think we’re using the money correctly.”

Tearing out the 50-spot parking lot should begin this summer and the new, 98-spot parking lot is scheduled to be finished by the end of October, Struxture Architects’ Jon Darveau told the school board on July 7.

“We got three solid bids,” Hatfield said.

The two other bids were Frye Builders & Assoc. of Muscatine bidding $505,000 and Streb Construction of Iowa City with $532,000.

The school board will use money from its Physical Plant Equipment Levy/Secure an Advanced Vision for Education fund to pay for the work.

Darveau said All American has worked with HBK engineering before.

“The low bidder checked out,” he said. “HBK says they do good work.”

The school board bid the project by asking companies to include how much the school could save if they did not build a turning lane; All American said they could cut $16,000 from the total, but the school board kept it in.

Hatfield noted this project will continue into the school year and parents will not be able to drop off students at the front door anymore.

“When you drive into the (new) parking lot, it will have a different feel to it,” he said.

Just before the board voted, Darveau noted that this is a busy construction time, especially in Iowa City, then board member Mike Colbert clarified that the bid would go to All American.

“The contract was actually sent to them today,” Darveau said next.

A few minutes later, board member Deb Schrieber expressed concerns with sending contracts to contractors prior to the board voting.

“I’d rather not do that,” she said. “I feel like the decision’s already been made.”

Darveau then said that the information on the low bid was sent to Struxture’s business manager.

“It will not be sent out until tomorrow,” he said.

“Thank you for clarifying,” Schreiber responded.