Snubbed sewer contractor says O’Fallon making ‘wrong’ choice
On Thursday night, O’Fallon city officials are expected to award a $1.7 million contract for upgrades to the city’s sewer and water plant to a St. Louis County company that submitted the second-lowest bid.
The city is choosing KCI Construction Co. over four other companies, including the low bidder Ducon Inc. of Wentzville, which submitted a bid to do the job for $40,000 less than KCI.
City spokesman Tom Drabelle said KCI’s $1.7 million proposal demonstrated a better overall understanding of the project, more experience and a plan with minimal interruption in sewer service to residents.
The city’s bid analysis–performed by O’Fallon-based Paric Corp., Donohue & Associates, an engineering firm in Chesterfield and city staff–outlined concerns about Ducon’s experience and ability to do the job without a disruption at the plant.
Ducon’s president Kevin Dulle said he was disappointed O’Fallon had made what he said was the “wrong” choice but acknowledged the city’s right to hire whichever contractor it wants. Dulle said the project, which includes replacing pumps, piping and other equipment, is not complicated and his company has years of experience necessary to adequately finish the job at a lower cost to taxpayers.
Ducon’s bid was $1.66 million. Dulle said he’d like O’Fallon to reconsider.
“The city’s about to spend $40,000 more than they need to,” Dulle said.
Paric is O’Fallon’s construction management firm for the plant expansion, while Donohue is the city’s engineering firm. Drabelle said the city hired outside firms because O’Fallon did not have the engineering expertise to handle such specialized construction.
Paric is being paid $674,000 and Donohue is being paid $821,000 from the city’s $12 million capital improvements fund for their work on the project, Drabelle said. Revenue from rate increases approved last year is paying for the expansion, which is expected to take more than a year to complete.
The City Council will vote Thursday night on a resolution to award the bid to KCI.
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What is an addition $40,000 to the City of O’Fallon? It’s much less than the retail and park studies totaling $150,000….the unnecessary legal costs of $50,000 to unsuccessfully attempt to find a problem with the former city administrator….and much less than the rumored additional “over the budget” costs of $100,000 to $150,000 spent this year on the 4th of July celebration.There is more financial waste in this city and not enough room to detail it all here. After all, it’s only money and O’Fallon must have plenty to spend because they sure are spending it!
Sounds like a another Pierce Conley initiative. He only spends money when its other people’s. Conley its the economy silly. We will all be shocked whenyou do something that doesn’t cost us money or can at least make money or is even better, makes beter use of the city’s resources. Wonder where his boss is with KCI?
I voted for the new Mayor but I am unimpressed with the amount money he is spending to date. Please Mayor, we all understand the need to get outside but for once can we get with the way business is being done in this new economy. Find a consultant/outside help/whatever it is that will have skin in the game…..they don’t get paid unless they make measurable progress or make the city money somehow. I agree with ‘Its Only Money’ your wasting dollars and soon you will be asking for a tax increase like St Charles County and St Peters.
Come on lets do better with our money.
Oh great that fine McKee owned company Paric is running things.
We all know the city will get the best deal now, riiiiiiiight!!
Paric is part of McKee. Century 21 Leutkenhaus is exclusive realtors for McKee properties. Pierce Conley works for Leutkenhaus. Pierce Conley is an Alderman for O’Fallon. The city staff recommends one way for the bid, Paric the other and Conley steps in to tell staff which bid to go with…..the only piece of the puzzle yet to fall is how much does or how much will KCI construction get of the McKee North St Louis rebuild project. Understand there is lots of sewer to fix in those areas. The Conley-Leutkenhaus duo strike again with taxpayer dollars….remember the Water and Sewer bids.
Leave Pierce alone. He is kind of like the crazy uncle at the family reunion now with this Council.
Let me get this right! Conley is pushing for McKee in O’Fallon? Not Hennessey, Perkins and Schwenker? Don’t be ridiculous! What a bunch of crooks - every one of them!
O’Fallon voters are about to get it again and they deserve it for voting this bunch into office again. O’Fallon is heading for a world of trouble.
Hey! Do O’Fallon people know they have over 800 foreclosed homes in that city? SURPRISE! Wonder how (or why) that happened?
As predicted the Council approved the second lowest bid with only Haney and Haman voting against it. Way to go guys!!!
The Alliance Water Company mafia lives on……Scheer is the Hitman, Hennessey the Don, Schwentker fighting Perkins to be the key confident to the Don, Conley skimming the money for Leutkenhaus and the others. Sorry Haman and Haney, you are the only ones who want to watch our tax dollars.