Bond claim won’t be made vs. roofing contractor

PRINCETON — During its meeting Monday, the Princeton Park District Board decided against making a bond claim against its roofing contractor for his failure to bid the Bureau County Metro Center roofing project according to specifications.

The board’s only stipulation was that the contractor retrieve the supplies that have already been delivered to the job site.

The board previously withdrew from its contract with R.A. Oldeen of Kewanee. He bid the estimated six- to eight-week project at $285,000 for the installation of a white EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) roof. He was also contracted to replace the building’s skylights at an additional cost, and the board extended the project’s deadline at his request.

“I don’t think we should make a claim as long as he agrees to come pick up the materials. We’re out the publication expense, but that’s about all,” Princeton Park District attorney Bob Russell said.

The job to replace the Metro Center’s 30-year-old, 31,000-square-foot roof was initially expected to cost more than $550,000, but the design engineer arrived at a lower figure of roughly $400,000. But while Oldeen’s bid came in substantially lower, the board soon had to approve a $15,000 adjustment because he hadn’t factored in the price difference between a black EPDM roof and a white one.

During a pre-construction meeting, the district learned Oldeen was preparing to utilize a roofing system much different than what was contractually specified. To meet those obligations, he told the district it would cost them approximately another $89,000. The design engineer then learned a large portion of that amount was approximately three times what the roofing system manufacturer figured.

Those additions, combined with the first $15,000 adjustment, would have raised the project’s cost more than $100,000 above what was bid.

The project will now have to be rebid for next year. While materials had been delivered to the Metro Center, no work had started and no payments made.

Amended aircraft ordinance

Following a previous request from Princeton resident Andrew Sims to be allowed to fly his “powered paraglider” into and out of Zearing Park, which was denied, a city ordinance was expected to be amended soon.

The city and the park district mutually adopted a drone-related nuisance ordinance in 2016, but Sims felt it didn’t apply to his aircraft because it only addressed “unmanned aircraft.” During the meeting, Princeton Park District Executive Director Elaine Russell told Sims an amendment to add “manned aircraft” to the ordinance was being presented to the city council that evening for a first reading.

“Once they approve, it we’ll follow suit,” she told Sims.

The board also reviewed information from the district’s insurance company that restricts the use of aircraft in the parks. Sims offered to sign a waiver releasing the district from liability.

“We’re not going to do that, we can’t,” Russell told him.

In other news

• The board approved the district’s budget and appropriations ordinance for the next fiscal year. The district estimates revenue for the period to total roughly $1.9 million and has budgeted for about $3.5 million across all funds.

• The board learned the district has been awarded “Exemplary Membership” status by the Illinois Parks Association’s Risk Services department for the second year. The district will receive a credit on the renewal of its membership in recognition that there haven’t been any claimed injuries, or equipment or building damages throughout the Metro Center or parks.

“This has been a team effort from all of our staff members, and I want to congratulate everyone on a job well done,” Russell told the board.

• She also thanked everyone for their help to make the district’s recent Homestead Festival events a success, including organizing the 5K, hosting a 50th class reunion and the blues concert.

The next meeting of the Princeton Park District Board is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7.