Finally, Saxon Blvd. repairs to begin

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Feb 16, 2009 - 9:46:08am

More than five months after Tropical Storm Fay washed away the shoulder and sidewalks along Saxon Boulevard in Orange City, Volusia County is taking action to remedy the problems.

The county has awarded a contract for the repairs, and there is more good news: the winning bid was below the original estimate, and the cost will be covered by federal funds.

"We're getting reimbursed with federal money," County Engineer Gerald Brinton said. "It's probably around three weeks to 30 days before a contractor is actually ready."

On Feb. 5, the County Council selected Barracuda Building Corp. of Apopka as the contractor for the project. Of the 10 contractors bidding, all of them from Florida, Barracuda submitted the lowest offer: $83,616.50. The bids ranged as high as $200,000.

Further, Brinton doesn't expect the bid amount to creep up as the job progresses. When contractors run into unexpected conditions, they submit change orders — amendments to a contract that may require additional spending by the party paying for the contractor's services.

"There was nothing in the bids that would set them up for change orders," Brinton said.

He and the county's Public Works Department had estimated the repairs would cost at least $105,000.

The work was delayed as the county sought and received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration to pay for the Saxon Boulevard repairs.

The federal grant comes through the Florida Department of Transportation. The Highway Administration required the county to solicit bids for the work, rather than commissioning it directly without competitive bidding.

— al@beacononlinenews.com

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