Aquatic ride delayed by excessive bid

MOSES LAKE — The flow rider and lazy river coming to the Moses Lake Aquatic Center faces delays and a re-bid due to a nearly $1 million overbid.

The city estimated the installation of the flow rider and the construction of the lazy river to cost approximately $2.4 million. The flow rider allows people to surf on a shallow surface. The city received a single bid from Kilgore Construction for nearly $3.3 million.

Councilmember James Liebrecht said he is concerned with the overbids the city received on projects lately.

"When I saw that, boy I tell you, I swallowed twice," he said. "Enough is enough. If they want our business they're going to have to start scratching their heads."

The council discussed the possibility of doing the projects as separate installments with several different contractors.

Municipal Services Director Gary Harer recommended holding one contractor responsible for the whole project. There could be difficulty getting several different people who do not work together to collaborate for the same end result.

"I'm not in favor of separating the bids, Councilmember Dick Deane said. "I think we have a package deal. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right."

City Manager Joe Gavinski advised council to reject the bid and face a distant completion date.

Harer said there are three main reasons the bid came in nearly $1 million over the expected estimate.

A contractor can be prone to seek more profit when they know what their competition is, whether there is some or not, he said. There was a short timeline given to the contractor to get the project done. The crew would have to work through a frozen ground and adverse weather conditions. Finally, the crew would be paid overtime due to the short time frame to reach completion.

Council approved to re-bid the project and extend the time frame for completion.

"It probably won't be ready to use at all this year," Gavinski said.

Originally the project was to be competed during the summer of 2007. Council now expects completion sometime in 2008.