web1_westminister4_faa.jpg

WB targets trash, problem properties during ‘Taking it to the Streets’

web1_Dollar-Sign.jpg

Dozens of local municipalities receiving gambling grants

<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212;The potential cost of Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s new consolidated high school came into sharp focus at Wednesday night&#8217;s meeting as the school board voted to approve &#8220;intent to award contracts&#8221; for the project. The total: $88.2 million.</p><p>The approval is contingent on state approval of PlanCon part F, which the board voted to submit after voting on the contracts. PlanCon is the state program for construction project approval and possible reimbursement of some costs. The district has estimated state reimbursement of up to $24 million.</p><p>The PlanCon F paperwork notes &#8220;the low bids for each of the 11 contracts was under the budgeted value.&#8221;</p><p>The form says the district has no plans to rebid any of the work, but also notes the board told the bidder for the &#8220;building shell, elevators and pool&#8221; of one possible adjustment after the bid is awarded: &#8220;The district may consider changing the natatorium from a 6-lane pool to an 8-lane pool.&#8221;</p><p>The natatorium was bid as an alternate. Board members made it an option to be added only if total bids came in low enough so the district could afford it. As alternate &#8220;A-101&#8221; it adds $2.95 million across multiple contracts, but also reduces some contracts by a total of $11,500. The reduction is mostly due to less landscaping where the natatorium will be built.</p><p>A summary of the contracts for the building to be raised in Plains Township and house grades 9-12 from the three current high schools shows that the alternates approved, while substantial, are not a very big part of the total cost. They add up to a bit less than $5.5 million, and most of that is for the natatorium. The base bids, by comparison, total $82.7 million.</p><p>Prior to voting, the board heard from financial advisers, who noted the success in improving the district credit rating coupled with other factors resulted in a &#8220;very favorable&#8221; outcome when selling bonds, getting considerably lower interest rates than just a few years ago, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.</p><p>The board also heard a litany of complaints from critics, many made previously, including questions of hazardous materials on the site and lack of books in current buildings.</p><p>Michael Krzywicki, project manager from Apollo Group Inc., said 25 acres being developed for the school will be capped, and another 27 acres will be capped and seeded, sealing any material underneath.</p><p>Attorney Kim Borland contended the district could not award contracts until PlanCon F is approved and predicted it won&#8217;t be, but District Solicitor Ray Wendolowski said the vote was intent to award contracts contingent on PlanCon approval. Borland countered that publicizing the bid winners and amounts put the district at risk if approval is denied and contracts need to be rebid.</p><p>Borland also challenged the board to find &#8220;a single example of a district that consolidated and saved money.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Breakdown</strong></p><p>Here is a breakdown of the contracts:</p><p>&#8226; Sitework, to go to Stell Enterprises in Plains Township, with a base bid of $11.38 million and alternates totaling $600,326 for a total sitework cost just shy of $12 million.</p><p>&#8226; Building shell, elevators and pool to Quandel Construction Group Inc., of Harrisburg, for a base bid of $29.95 million and alternates at $2.6 million, for a total just under $32.6 million.</p><p>&#8226; Drywall and ceilings to Duggan &amp; Macron Inc., of Allentown, with a base bid just under $3 million and alternates of $47,000 for a total just over $3 million.</p><p>&#8226; General trades to Quandel with a base bid of $13.6 million and alternates of $582,000 for a total rounding to $14.2 million.</p><p>&#8226; Food service equipment to 11400 Inc., of Lancaster, with a base bid of $787,000 and no alternates.</p><p>&#8226; Fire protection to Triangle Fire Protection Inc., of Carlisle, for a base bid of $989,960 and alternates at $17,870 for a total just over $1 million.</p><p>&#8226; Plumbing to Benell Inc., of Bloomsburg, with a base bid of $4.87 million and alternates at $69,000 for a total just above $4.9 million.</p><p>&#8226; Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) to Scranton Sheet Metal Inc., of Scranton, with a base bid of $9.1 million and alternates at $823,500 for a total just over $9.9 million.</p><p>&#8226; Electrical to Everon Electrical Contractors Inc. with a base bid of $7.3 million and alternates at $538,893 for a total of nearly $7.9 million.</p><p>&#8226; Landscaping to Green Valley Landscaping Inc., of Plains Township, with a base bid of $267,762 and alternates at $73,691 for a total of $341,453.</p><p>&#8226; Aluminum and glass to Sterling Glass Inc., of Buffalo, N.Y., with a base bid of $1.44 million and alternates at $116,750 for a total of nearly $1.6 million.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_WBA-contract-summary-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A bid summary of construction contracts for Wilkes-Barre Area School District&#8217;s new consolidated high school to be built in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_WBA-contract-summary-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>A bid summary of construction contracts for Wilkes-Barre Area School District&#8217;s new consolidated high school to be built in Plains Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Mark Guydish | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_WBA-board-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre Area School Board members listen during an update on financing for the new consolidated high school at Wednesday&#8217;s meeting. The school board voted to approve &#8216;intent to award contracts&#8217; for the project. The contracts total $88.2 million. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_WBA-board-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wilkes-Barre Area School Board members listen during an update on financing for the new consolidated high school at Wednesday&#8217;s meeting. The school board voted to approve &#8216;intent to award contracts&#8217; for the project. The contracts total $88.2 million. </caption1><photoCredit1>Mark Guydish | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Contracts for new Wilkes-Barre Area High School total $88.2M