Dog facility construction update
At Monday's town board meeting, Councilmember Mike Wozniak, Dog Control Committee Chair, gave an updated timetable on the pending new dog control facility regarding construction bidding process and anticipated construction date startup.
A few meetings ago, Wozniak spoke on construction starting the beginning of June. Wozniak said that plans have been distributed for the project and will be sent out for construction bids at the May 3rd meeting. Approximately 21 days after that, the bids will be opened, reviewed by the town engineer and town board – hopefully, no later than June 21st. Wozniak closed by saying that the town anticipates breaking ground no later than late summer, early fall.
Comment
The estimated June 21st date for bid completion, review, and decision making will be 7 months after the initial bid process took place in late November 2020 - denied December 2020 because the lowest bid was $600,000 over town engineering estimated construction cost.
No building design details were offered by Mr. Wozniak. Whether or not any information will be provided in the May 3rd bid resolution on what has been sacrificed in regard to building design / number of kennels / safety features, etc. remains to be seen. What changes have been made to reduce construction costs to close the $600,000 gap will be of interest. Of interest because it remains perplexing how the town and town’s engineering department underestimated the costs of building the dog facility when applying for the state grant. More state grant funding could have been applied for.