Township Looks Again at Municipal Campus Bids
LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – Representatives of Alloy 5, the architectural firm employed by Lower Pottsgrove Township to design its more than $8-million-dollar proposed municipal campus, have had since mid-April to consider why its bids came in 2.6 percent over budget. They’re scheduled to return to the Board of Commissioners’ meeting Monday (June 7, 2021) and further review the project.
A discussion with architect Randy Galiotto is part of the board agenda for its 7 p.m. session to be held at Sunnybrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Rd. The event is free to attend and open to the public. A copy of the latest agenda is available for download from the township website, here.
Board members have indicated they want to get moving on construction for township offices and the police department to be built at South Pleasant View Road and East High Street. They still have time to evaluate and select or reject all or any bids, township Solicitor Charles Garner reported.
The current total of $8,613,331 in lowest construction bids and related costs is $194,726 higher than expected, and about $300,000 more than initially suggested when plans were announced in August 2019. Higher costs are due in part to building changes recommended by a board committee, and by dramatically escalating material prices.
Bids for municipal campus electrical and plumbing costs far exceeded Alloy 5’s expectations.
Bloomberg News estimates the cost of copper for electrical wiring has risen about 80 percent between August 2019 and May 2021; cement and concrete is about 95 percent higher, and lumber prices have nearly tripled. The hikes are due in part to pandemic-related shortages, and to recovery of the construction industry during a period of heavy consumer and industrial demand.
Also Monday, commissioners are scheduled to:
- Hear about applications to the township Zoning Hearing Board for prospective variances requested for properties on Bleim Road and Briar Lane;
- Authorize advertising for bids on second-phase renovations to Gerald Richards Park on Buchert Road; and
- Receive reports from their department heads on activity during the past month.
The Post will be unable to cover Monday’s meeting in person, but will follow up with later articles.
Photo at top by The Post, of a campus drawing displayed in November 2020 by Lower Pottsgrove
