Refinements needed to cut Vets Memorial costs

CEDAR RAPIDS - The last phase of flood recovery at the Veterans Memorial Building will be put on hold for a short time as its governing commission decides what to do with bids that came in higher than expected.

The work involves the building's central auditorium and the armory area of the basement, commission Executive Director Mike Jager said Tuesday.

The pre-bid estimate for this third section of the project was $4.5 million, but the base bids from four contractors exceeded the estimate by between $1.36 million and $1.9 million. Rinderknecht Associates Inc. of Cedar Rapids submitted the low base bid of $5.86 million.

Jager said the commission's construction estimate was put together in February, with the design plans only 90 percent complete. In addition, the scope of the third phase of the project expanded as work on the first two segments proceeded, he said.

“We are evaluating our options, and looking at substitute materials, finishes and fixtures in order to lower the price,” Jager told the City Council last night. “We will examine costs first before we pursue additional revenue if necessary.”

Work on the Vets building renovation is slated for completion in the summer of 2013. The building will house an expanded veterans museum and have more programming for veterans as well as space for city meetings.

City Hall, which had made the building its home before the Floods of 2008, has moved down the street to the former federal courthouse.