DelawarePolitics.net

Sep 2nd, 2009 by admin

…when things like this pop up.

The cost of building the new Laurel paramedic station just went up. Even though contracts have been awarded and construction is taking place, Sussex County officials are being forced to pay an additional $56,000 in wages to meet the state’s prevailing wage regulations.

The added cost drives the price of the project to more than $200,000.

So for all you annoying twits who used to argue with me about the costs of prevailing wage, here we have a case where a project was increased by more than 33% by the addition of prevailing wage. And please note that the initial budget already had all of the market wages covered. So this is 33% of the entire cost of the project just to meet the DIFFERENCE between the market wage and the prevailing wage.

Unions are robbing you blind.

Posted in Stuff

10 Responses to “Hard to Stay Away…”

on 02 Sep 2009 at 11:401noman

“We were not aware this was a requirement when this was bid,” Baker said.

I guess they aren’t Delaware Politics readers.

Sussex County officials are being forced to pay an additional $56,000 in wages to meet the state’s prevailing wage regulations… The added cost drives the price of the project to more than $200,000.

What the heck kind of facility were they going to build for $140K, even without prevailing wage?
on 02 Sep 2009 at 12:002Maria Evans

Well, it was gonna be a cost effective one…
on 02 Sep 2009 at 12:143noman

Maybe a little research is in order… Who is the contractor? After you subtract out materials and overhead, what were they actually paying their people?

Are there any journalists downstate who could actually find out some of this stuff and maybe, y’know, talk to some of the workers?
on 02 Sep 2009 at 16:024David

What is interesting is the underlying dollars and cents change. This little glitch takes the argument into the real world.
on 02 Sep 2009 at 17:245noman

By the way, if Sussex doesn’t want to pay prevailing wage, they don’t have to.

They do have another available option if they feel that strongly about paying workers a fair rate:

Give. Back. The. Money.

Not sure why the final cost was such a surprise, they were estimating it at $250K back in February. From the Council minutes:

February 24, 2009
Mr. Baker advised that the current estimated cost is approximately $250,000 for an 1,100 square foot paramedic quarters and a 1,400 square foot two-bed garage. At Mrs. Deaver’s request last week, additional addendums have been added to the proposed contract to include such “Green” items as a tankless hot water heater, geothermal heat and solar panels. Mr. Baker reported that the net cost to the County before any available grants and the State of Delaware contribution, is approximately $19,000, a savings to the County of $2,700, with a seven-year payback. Mr. Baker stated that if the project is completed during the current fiscal year, it would be eligible for 40% funding from the State Paramedic Office, which would decrease the final cost to the County to an estimated $170,000.

April 7, 2009
A Motion was made by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Wilson, based upon the recommendation of the Sussex County Engineering Department, that Sussex County Project 09-04, Sussex County Emergency Medical Services Laurel Station No. 102, be awarded to Temco Builders, Inc. of Salisbury, Maryland, at the Alternate Bid amount of $152,090.00, which includes the Base Bid amount of $142,300.00 plus the option for the Geothermal Heat Pump System in the amount of $9,790.00.
Motion Adopted: 5 Yeas.
Vote by Roll Call: Mrs. Deaver, Yea; Mr. Vincent, Yea; Mr. Wilson, Yea; Mr. Cole, Yea; Mr. Phillips, Yea
on 02 Sep 2009 at 19:026Perry

Maria: “Well, it was gonna be a cost effective one…”

It is, Maria!

When was the last time all five members of the SCC ever voted together for the same thing?

Thanks for the research, noman — very informative, very interesting, very good!!!
on 02 Sep 2009 at 19:157Maria Evans

Perry, they all voted for it at the pre-prevailing wage price. The vote was 3-1 to pay the extra $56K.
on 02 Sep 2009 at 19:218Maria Evans

Not sure why the final cost was such a surprise, they were estimating it at $250K back in February.

Maybe it’s a “surprise” because the actual bid that the Council approved was a $156K project.
on 02 Sep 2009 at 19:239MariaEvans

Excuse me, $152K.
on 02 Sep 2009 at 21:4410noman

Now the question – did Temco win the bid because they lowballed the labor costs based on illegal labor rates?

Hard to Stay Away…

10 Responses to “Hard to Stay Away…”

What You’re Saying…

Breaking News

Activism

Local Blogs

National Sites

News

Resources

Archives

Topics

Archives