Benton County Board of Supervisors review bids for new law enforcement center

The Benton County Board of Supervisors accepted the recommendations of architectural firm Design Dynamics, Inc. and awarded the contract for the demolition of the Law Enforcement Center, which was damaged in last years flood, to D. W. Zinser of Walford based on their bid of $119,700.00.

The bid included a primary bid of $64,000 for the physical demolition and removal of material, and an additional bid of $42,500.00 for raising the site to one foot above the flood level of 2008, for a total of $106,500.00

Central States Contracting of Cedar Falls had also submitted a bid for the project. Their estimate of $72,689.00 for demolition and material removal, and $31,900 for raising the site provided a slightly lower bid than Zinser's at $104,589.00.

The board had also requested bids for three alternate proposals which would include the reclamation of 20%, 60%, or 80% of the existing veneer limestone panels undamaged for use on the new building site. Design Dynamics is currently planning on using 2,800 sq ft of these panels on the retaining wall built around the fill material used to raise the building site.

Zinser estimated the cost at $13,200 while Central States put the cost at $34,250.00, which gave Zinser the lower overall bid.

When asked about the major difference in cost estimates, Zinser indicated that they have experience with reclaiming this type of material from an existing building and would do the work themselves, while Central States was planning on hiring a professional mason to assist them with removing the panels.

Due to a need to remove some of the soil below the parking lot located on the east side of the existing LEC, additional fill material will be needed to replace it. The best current estimate is that it will take 1500 cu. yds of material. Zinser's bid included a cost of $10.00 per cu. yd for $8,800.00, while Central States bid was $5.92 per cu. yd. for $15,000.00. While Central States' bid was lower based on a unit cost, even if the amount of material needed was doubled to 3,000 cu. yds, Zinser's bid would still come out the lower of the two.

Currently, the board is planning on signing the contract next Tuesday, and issuing an order to proceed. This would give Zinser five days to begin the demolition of the LEC.

The delay, will allow the county to remove some of the landscaping from around the LEC and transplant it around the courthouse, which is planned for this weekend.

Next week, the public will have an opportunity to view the design of the proposed new Law Enforcement Center and provide their comments.

Monday, Sept. 21, Design Dynamics will hold an open house at the U.S. Bank Community room in Vinton from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.

The following night, another open house will be held at the Community Center in Belle Plaine from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.