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Lake Bancroft pavilion design subject to change

Lake Bancroft Park in Ishpeming is shown. Construction bids for a plan to improve the park with a pavilion and other upgrades came in higher than expected, meaning officials are looking at ways to change the project to save money. (Journal file photo)

ISHPEMING–The construction of Ishpeming’s long-awaited Lake Bancroft Park pavilion may have to be scaled back after bids to build the structure came in well above its proposed budget.

The funds earmarked for the project are $547,000, GEI Consultants Senior Project Manager Mark Stoor said in an email Friday.

He said area contractors submitted four bids ranging from $676,000 to nearly $1.1 million.

The Lake Bancroft Area Development Committee voted during a meeting Thursday to recommend the low bid, submitted by GE Builders of Negaunee, for consideration by the Ishpeming City Council, contingent on modifications to the work that would put the project in line with available funds.

The decision came after the committee considered multiple options, including changing the scope of the project and renewing its request for contractor bids or seeking more funding.

The Ishpeming Downtown Development Authority was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Cliffs and Eagle Mine Marquette County Community Fund in 2015. The remainder of the project funds come from a $50,000 pledge from the DDA and a $300,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant.

“The current plan is to negotiate with the low bidder to determine whether we can make enough ancillary changes to the pavilion without having to make major changes to the structure or use,” Stoor said.

The committee is hoping to shave over $130,000 off the cost with the proposed modifications, which include changing roofing material from metal to asphalt; altering the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system from the originally proposed in-floor system to forced air; possible changes in building materials for doors, walls and multiple other building elements; and eliminating a proposed family restroom.

“The goal is to get within budget, because you don’t want to try to raise more money at this point because that is going to delay everything,” Ishpeming City Manager Mark Slown said during the meeting.

GEI project engineer Brian Fabbri and structural engineer Richard Price reported that the cost discrepancy was due in part to a spike in contractor pricing, primarily labor costs, since plans for the project were approved by the committee in April.

“In the last three months or so, we have seen just a flat off-the-top increase on bid prices of roughly 30 percent,” Price said.

He said much of that increase could be attributed to labor cost.

Slown said additional cost savings may be found by finding alternate ways to complete the landscaping required by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant.

“We could save a heck of a lot doing it locally with volunteers as opposed to hiring a contractor and paying contractor prices,” Slown said, “And maybe we can still satisfy the DNR with the landscaping.”

The Lake Bancroft Area Development Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 13 to hear updated pricing information on the project from GEI.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.

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