Atkins HVAC project on hold

ATKINS A state-partnership project to replace 33 heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units in the Atkins School District this summer was put on hold when the bid came in at around 1.5 times the amount the district expected.

The state which will pay 60 percent of the project, leaving the district responsible for 40 percent approved accepting a bid at a little more than $1.3 million.

Lorrie Smith of Hight-Jackson Associates, who acts as district architect, told the Atkins Board of Education during its regular meeting Monday the bid was so high because of unexpected fees and higher-than-expected percentages.

"Going into this, we felt like you had the $1.3 [million] but that we could get it in the $900,000 to $1 million [range]," Smith said. "We're not going to."

Board President Brian Boyer said the bid which was nearly $1.6 million seemed "astronomical," and suggested the district look into piecemealing the project over the next three years.

"The problem is, with state funding, they won't let you piece it," Smith said. "They won't let you go back and say you've approved this scope of work ... [if you] can't do it all at once, they're going to pull your funding."

All present board members voted to put the work back out to a hard bid, with four 20-ton HVAC units in the high school auditorium not included in the bid if they require emergency replacements. Because the bid date has been set at July 10, the completion date of the project has been moved to the summer of 2015. Board member Shawn Rook was absent.

The district is also contacting local companies to get estimates on piecemealing the project, should it come to that. It has until October to accept or rescind the state partnership funds.

Look for more coverage of the school board meeting in future editions of The Courier.

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Atkins HVAC project on hold