General construction contracts for both projects as well as the electrical contract for the planned clubhouse had previously been awarded.
The council on Tuesday also awarded a $32,700 mechanical contract to A. Treffeisen and Son LLC and a $186,050 electrical contract to Spring Electric for the boardwalk project.
However, City Engineer Mike Clark and Project Engineer Saratoga Associates recommended that the city reject the promenade plumbing bid it received and reapply for more competitive proposals.
A bid of approximately $360,000 was made to install the project. According to Clark, engineers estimated this effort to be around $120,000.
The work has already been re-tendered and the tender opening is scheduled for February 3rd. The city engineer hopes to recommend a contract award at the next regular council meeting a day later on Feb. 4.
“I plan to change this very quickly and hopefully make a recommendation at that time,” Clark said. “Hopefully the offers are competitive and less than what we received.”
Meanwhile, the city has put mechanical and plumbing work on the new clubhouse out to bid for the third time after initial proposals and bids received in a second round exceeded estimates from project engineer Saratoga Associates.
When the project was originally tendered, only one bid was received for each element. The mechanical bid was $281,000 and the base plumbing bid with an alternative element totaled $253,400.
The same contractors were the only bidders a second time when the project was re-awarded. The asking price would have put the clubhouse construction at about $2.27 million. The project budget is $2 million.
The third bid opening for these items is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m.
“We expect to see more participation, and hopefully that means more competitive pricing,” Clark said. “It is not intended to be a blowback to anyone who has made an offer. It’s simply a matter of budget.”
Officials are optimistic that new bids for both projects will come within budget. Clark said there was more interest in the clubhouse project this round.
“We've contacted a lot of contractors since then and said, 'Hey, take a look at this and if you're interested, please bid,' which is an acceptable practice,” Clark said. “We went the extra mile… it’s a lot of extra effort, but it will be worth it in the end.”
If bids come in over budget again, officials would need to review estimates for those items and potentially consider options for raising additional funds.
Mayor Michael Cinquanti noted that the estimates for other elements of both projects were correct and that the over-budget work represented only the smallest portions of the projects.
“Hopefully it’s just because there’s a lack of bidders,” Cinquanti said.
Construction of the elevated boardwalk near the seawall overlooking the Mohawk River at the edge of the former Chalmers Knitting Mill site on the south side is expected to begin this spring.
The facility, which will feature a variety of seating and open spaces, will be connected to the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook pedestrian bridge. A water playground, amphitheater-style seating and public art are planned for the western end to expand the versatility of the scenic gathering place.
The project is funded with a total of $3.46 million from multiple sources, including a portion of the city's $10 million state grant for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. William J. Keller & Sons Construction was awarded a $3.29 million general construction contract for the project in September.
It is unlikely that the project timeline will be affected if there are further delays in hiring a plumbing contractor for now.
“It wouldn’t be one of the first items,” Clark confirmed.
Officials say the new facility will provide another scenic space for residents and for hosting community activities and events. It is also hoped the attraction will encourage the redevelopment of the vacant Chalmers site. The Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency agreed to build the promenade on part of the property.
Construction of the new clubhouse at the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course is expected to begin in mid-February with initial work on site. Previously, the city awarded a $1.6 million general construction contract to MA Schafer Construction and a $207,350 electrical contract to Empire Electric. The contracts required the project to be substantially completed by August 1.
The 3,870 square foot indoor/outdoor clubhouse accommodates up to 150 guests year-round. A covered outdoor terrace offers wonderful views of the golf course. It will also feature a bar, a fully equipped commercial kitchen, bathrooms and fireplaces or fire pits.
It is funded in part by a $100,000 allocation from the city's American Rescue Plan Act coronavirus relief grant, $550,000 in grants secured by state officials and a $1 million bond previously approved by the Common Council . The remaining costs will be covered by unexpected state grants from the city.
It would not be necessary to have plumbing or mechanical contractors on site for the initial work, but along with the work on the building's foundation, substructure plumbing work will be required. Clark hopes to present pricing recommendations to the council at the Feb. 4 meeting.
“We just can’t spend too much on these two things. We have to stay within budget,” Cinquanti said.
The new building will finally give the golf course a clubhouse back, which was without a functioning system because the former building suffered significant water damage due to burst pipes in February 2019. The building was later demolished by Lance Orcutt, who purchased the property to build a modern clubhouse that never came to fruition. The city reacquired the site last year.
City officials say the golf course is an asset because it provides an amenity for both existing and future residents that can help spur economic development. Bringing a clubhouse back to the site would provide a venue for golfers and non-golfers to enjoy while supporting golf course finances as part of the larger goal of ensuring Muni at least breaks even each year.
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