6/11/07 (?) - Generator bids for County Office Building too high

June 11?? I need to type in the C-S article on this one, I looked back through the archives and couldn't find it on line.

I am sure I kept it, but basically the bids came back too high... go figure!

I have found out since that the County pulled originally pulled together a generic spec for a generator with all the bells and whistles, such as huge walk around enclosure, super sound attenuation (noise deadening), and made it TWICE as large as the building load.

The walk through consisted of handing out the County's standard contract agreement, the generic spec, and a point to the location of where the County wanted to see the generator go.

That's it. Really. But it's not on the EMINENT DOMAIN property, or so we're told by the County - See the STORY HERE from the Cortland Standard

No drawings, no engineering, just a spec and a point to the location. No liability on a professional, the contractor.

That is exactly why the pricing came in as high as it did. All the contractors were licking their chops on this one. No documents to hold them to scope. Then when the installation occurs, they will squeeze even more dollars out in 'change orders', as they weren't given all the details.

Who pays for this? Taxpayers!

By the way, check out my first email to the County Legislators on 12/31/07 where I flagged the $180,000 project as TOO LOW!!

The low bid on the generator project??? OVER $400,000!

Think Ahead - Ask questions!!!!!!!!