Coogan, Juneau set to discuss auditorium final costs
Company says it can't complete project for price of original bid
The city and Coogan Construction will soon negotiate the final costs to complete Thunder Mountain High School's auditorium, which voters approved in a special election last June.
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Tuesday, Lloyd Coogan said he couldn't do the finishing work for the original bid set in May 2006. He could not say what the final price might be.
"We're trying to put together some cost agreeable to the city," Coogan said.
The company's bid in 2006 was $2.1 million, slightly more than the estimated cost, according to city Engineering Director Roger Healy.
Finishing the auditorium was one of five additional bids included along with the base bid for the overall construction project.
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Coogan said cost increases come from things such as the rise in heating and transportation expenses.
"Until we turn over the building, all costs are our responsibility," he said.
Healy said formal negotiations to finalize a price have not begun.
The developing contract talk was the focus of an executive session during Monday night's regular Juneau Assembly meeting.
Assembly member Randy Wanamaker said the session was informational in nature and that specifics could not be discussed outside the room. The Assembly can discuss issues that "may adversely affect the finances of the city" behind closed doors, he said.
By the time voters cast ballots last summer, Coogan's original side-bid for the auditorium, which was only good for 12 months, had expired.
Last June, as votes on whether to support additional funds for the auditorium were tallied, then School Board President Bill Peters said, "This is it. This completes Thunder Mountain High School."
Superintendent Peggy Cowan said the district still expects the auditorium to be completed, but cannot say when. Cowan said she cannot discuss the content of talks between the city and Coogan Construction, because she said she received the information in confidence.
Coogan said he expects to deliver a price range for completing the auditorium to the city in the coming weeks. He is searching for better prices, but doesn't know if an agreement can be reached with the city.
He said his company is trying to catch up on primary construction at the new high school after last year's harsh winter set work back eight weeks.
"I don't care if I get it (the contract) or not. I'm swamped. I'm struggling to get this done on time," he said.
If Coogan cannot do the job for the a price the city likes, City Manager Rod Swope said he would seek direction from the Juneau Assembly on what to do next.
"They could put it out for bid, or drop it," he said. "It's the discretion of the Assembly."
The primary goal for the city remains to seek an agreement on costs with Coogan and get the auditorium finished, Healy said. He added if the city doesn't like the price, the project will go out for bid again.
Healy said, however, the auditorium will eventually be finished.
"It's a needed component," he said. "We'll get there."