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BOE OK’s $272K after bids come under budget
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · May 25, 2017


Woodruff Construction of Tiffin earned the restroom project at Hoover Elementary with a bid of $272,000, which the West Branch Board of Education approved May 8.


Struxture Architects estimated the work at $400,000 to $500,000.

Superintendent Kevin Hatfield said Woodruff bid to complete the work by Aug. 15, about a week before school begins the 2017-18 school year.

Hatfield said the high estimate assumed that the work may encounter weight-bearing walls.

“But both bids were under that,” he said.

The second bid came from Tri-Con Construction of Dubuque, for $288,000.

Hatfield said the district received a third bid, but that company did not provide bid security, so that bid was never opened.

The work involves updating and remodeling the restrooms on the south wing of the elementary school, except the one for the nurse’s office as that may be replaced should voters approve a two-building addition project.

The work could start soon after school gets out, possibly by June 1.

Hatfield said he asked Woodruff to upgrade the restrooms in each of the “pods” -- the groupings of classrooms for second, third and fourth grades. After that, the workers would address the restrooms near the art and music classrooms, the multi-purpose room/cafeteria and the staff restrooms in the north wing.

The school plans to cover the cost with money from its Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL).