City's denial of asphalt shingles for jail building could cost county $67,000

Posted by Howard Owens on May 5, 2009 - 2:37pm
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geneseejustice.jpgThe Genesee Justice/Jail building at 14 West Main Street needs a new roof, and it seems the County Legislature Ways & Means Committee is in a little tiff with the city over what kind of roofing material is permissible.

The county applied to the city's Historic Preservation Board to replace the current roof with asphalt shingles, but the request was denied, according to minutes from the April 15 Ways & Means Committee meeting minutes.

The lowest of five bids for the re-roofing project, at $197,000, proposed asphalt shingles. The next lowest bid, using synthetic slate is $67,000 higher.

Committee members question whether the city has the authority to declare a county building part of a preservation zone.

The minutes note that the preservation board approved the synthetic slate roof "reluctantly," without any detail on what that means.

A motion to approve the $264,000 bid from Grove Roofing Services was tabled after some discussion and the matter was referred to the county attorney for further review.

During the discussion, County Legislator Jay Grasso noted that both City Hall and the new county courthouse have asphalt roofs.

At about 1 p.m. today, we e-mailed City Manager Jason Molino for clarification of the city's position and have yet to receive a reply.

UPDATE: After this post, I e-mailed County Manager Jay Gsell to double check whether anything had changed since the April 15 Ways and Means meeting.  In response, he made these points:

  • City Hall was not directly part of process county pursued to get approval for roof replacement options other than new slate.
  • The Historic Preservation Board was called on because of requirements in city Code, but the new buildings (as mentioned above) do not fall under the board's jurisdiction, so it's not an accurate comparison.
  • Bids were solicited as required by state law and the roof of this building is complex both interms of removal and new systems/replacement and materials with a 50-year life expectancy (asphalt shingle is 25 years).

"Bottom line is that roof is over 100 years old," Gsell wrote. "It's in bad shape. This building is on Register of Historic Buildings and we intend to keep using for county functions for a long time, including our  back up emergency 911 center should 165 Park Road for some bizarre reason not be functional."

The Ways and Means Committee meets tomorrow at 4 p.m. and will revisit this issue.

Posted by Jason Juliano on May 5, 2009 - 3:22pm
This offends me as a taxpayer! Why is the cost to replace the roof on the jail so excesive?

If the local, state, and federal government made purchasing decisions more responsibly instead of spending our tax dollars to excess - news stories like this would never exist.

I understand that the roof needs to be replaced and it should be. But when an average residential roof costs $8,000 to be replaced. It suggests that a roof 10 times the size should be somewhere in the $80,000-$100,000 range - not 2.5 times something reasonable.

I'm all for businesses making money, but it is shameful for private companies to gouge the city at the taxpayers expense.
Posted by Howard Owens on May 5, 2009 - 3:40pm
I should have included: The high bid was $895,977. I don't know from whom.
Posted by Gabor Deutsch on May 5, 2009 - 3:57pm
What ? 895,977 to replace a roof ?
Posted by william tapp on May 5, 2009 - 3:57pm
I agree with Jason, sounds way to much, i think thay better find more bids
Posted by Karen Miconi on May 7, 2009 - 7:48am
This estimate is absolutely ridiculous. I know for a fact it will not cost that much. Now I feel someone is really taking advantage, and lining their pockets! Why can't we give the business to local, starving roofers? Do the union contractors charge more?? Why??
Get your tape measures ready folks. Anybody want to do an estimate??
Born at night, but not
Last night
Just My Opinion
Posted by Jason Juliano on May 5, 2009 - 4:57pm
This is an opportunity for a good quality contractor to come in and get this job with a FAIR bid.

And the companies that bid on theses projects should be made public. I stand corrected, the $264,000 bid doesn't offend me nearly as much as the $895,000 bid!
Posted by Peter O'Brien on May 5, 2009 - 5:02pm
How can you know for a fact when you are not a roofer who looked at the job and determined what work would need to be done?

Sure it sounds expensive and I don want to be fleeced by anyone but without details of the job and experience doing it you can't critize the bids.

And I don't want the city to be involved at all. Since this is the Genesee County jail shouldn't they be footing the bill and making the decisions?

That said, the new roof should match the buildings stylings. Slate would look much better on that roof then asphalt.

And I may be mistaken but doesn't most of the building have a flat roof?
Posted by Jason Juliano on May 5, 2009 - 7:49pm
Could there be issues that require excessive repairs to drive up the cost? Sure.

But this is more an issue of exessive spending at our expense.

If the bids are fair - fine! But I strongly doubt that's the case... especially judging from the incredibly wide range in bids for the same job.
Posted by Gabor Deutsch on May 5, 2009 - 5:43pm
Unless the shingles have to be made of gold then I suggest a bid should be offered to "SHEDGUY". I think its one of those situations where someone is forced to deal with "union" type of bids. I will bet anyone housed for jail reasons would be more than willing to help with labor and volunteer.
Posted by John Roach on May 5, 2009 - 8:10pm
Is this a case where, since it is a government project, they are required to pay union wages instead of the lowest bid possible?

If so, that would drive up the cost a lot. If not, then the bids must be ok since nobdoy came in lower. How much more does it cost to bid a government contract?
Posted by Karen Miconi on May 7, 2009 - 7:55am
John, do the union contractors charge more for the same service locals offer??? I wonder what the base their rates on. We wont be paying for their Union Dues will we? Shouldn't we be trying to create jobs for the local roofers in our town? I'd love to compare a bid from a local, against a union bid. OH, and where did the 895,000 bid originate. What were these guys trying to pull.
Just wondering
Posted by Andrew Erbell on May 7, 2009 - 8:01am
On a somewhat related matter, you are aware all the work that will be done with Federal Stimulus Funds must be done by union-only companies, right? They will be the only bids accepted.
Posted by Peter O'Brien on May 7, 2009 - 8:04am
I honestly understand that, you have to take care of those who give you money. Since unions give most of their money to democrats they give back with favors like this. Its is how politics has always and will always be done until campaign commercials are free.
Posted by Andrew Erbell on May 7, 2009 - 8:23am
Yep, another great example is President Obama ditching the successful school voucher program in DC and sending those kids back to one of the worst performing public school districts in the entire country. His girls must be really popular (sarcasm intended) with some of their peers at Sidwell Friends right now.