Sequim approves two contracts to one bidder despite cost

SEQUIM –– With only one firm bidding quotes for city street projects — quotes above the cost estimates — City Council members questioned this week whether they should even proceed with the city list of summer sidewalk and pavement work.

“This just stinks,” Councilwoman Candace Pratt said Monday after reading bids that were in some cases double the cost estimated by city staff.

The council approved two contracts with Lakeside Industries of Port Angeles: one for $231,580 worth of pavement rehabilitation and one for $119,612 to bring sidewalks into compliance with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.

Lakeside was the only firm to bid on either job.

“Once again, we have only one bidder,” Councilman Ted Miller said.

“I think we’re very fortunate that Lakeside Industries doesn’t take advantage of its near-monopoly to gouge us.”

Pratt, though, felt the city was being gouged for street repairs.

She voted against awarding Lakeside the pavement contract, noting the city could do more projects with the difference between Lakeside’s quote and the estimated cost.

“We’re pinching every penny, and this doesn’t look like we’re pinching the right pennies,” Pratt said.

George Peabody, manager of Lakeside’s Port Angeles branch, said asphalt and concrete prices are elevated because of the current high price of oil.

“You’ve seen the price of diesel and gas right now, haven’t you?” he asked. “It’s all petroleum-based.”

The firm’s bid, he said, was prepared without the knowledge it would be the only bidder for Sequim’s projects.

“I just want to do the job. This is what I thought it cost,” Peabody said. “I can’t help it if nobody else bid the job.”

Bids over estimate

Bids on two parts of that project, bituminous surface treatments of West Prairie Street and West Maple Street, came in at $84,200 and $40,020, respectively.

Those two quotes were a combined $57,300 over the estimated costs of $49,200 for Prairie Street and $17,720 for Maple.

In addition to the work on Prairie and Maple streets, the pavement preservation plan calls for overlays of sections of South Third Avenue, $72,720, and West McCurdy Road, $34,640.

“I wish you’d just withdraw [the Prairie Street work] and put it out to bid again,” Pratt said.

“We could do another McCurdy with that difference.”

Councilwoman Genaveve Starr abstained from the vote, which passed with four affirmative votes from the rest of the council.

Starr said she would like to put off the work until next year, but since the maintenance needed to be done, she withheld her vote.

The sidewalk contract was unanimously approved.

It calls for $47,450 to install ADA-compliant driveways and ramps on sidewalks along Seventh Avenue from Washington Street to Spruce and $71,162 for ADA-compliant ramps on East Washington Street sidewalks between Dunlap Street and Brown Road.

Starr asked if the city should delay the work until next year, with the hopes of finding a better bidding climate.

City Engineer David Garlington said pushing work back a year would worsen the condition of those streets, meaning more costly repairs later, and deferred maintenance to other roads that could be repaired instead.

Garlington said the city has had a hard time getting more than one bidder for projects this year.

Blames highway

Garlington said most local firms are tied up working subcontracts on the state’s project to widen U.S. Highway 101 from two lanes to four between Shore and Kitchen-Dick roads.

Garlington also noted that Lakeside has a bidding advantage because it owns an asphalt plant.

County zoning laws, he said, are too cumbersome for new firms to build new competing plants.

“We have a problem — and it’s going to be a long-term problem,” Garlington said.

He was hopeful economic incentives would hold prices down in the future.

“If the answer is that the city doesn’t award contracts, that’s no good for the bidder, either,” he said.

________

Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Election security measures in place

Fire suppressant just one example

Ruby Speer, 3, of Port Angeles receives a treat from KaraLee Monroe of Kindred Collective as part of Thursday’s Halloween festivities in downtown Port Angeles. Hundreds of youngsters and adults made their way door-to-door in search of candy and other treasures. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Trick or treat in Port Angeles

Ruby Speer, 3, of Port Angeles receives a treat from KaraLee Monroe… Continue reading

Karen Huber, sister of Nash Huber, the owner of Nash’s Organic Produce, stands by large crates that hold various seeds that Nash sells to farmers. She said she’s mitigated alleged violations and concerns from property owner, Washington Land Trust, but the longtime farmer faces eviction from the property if he doesn’t comply with ending his lease agreement that goes through 2032. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Washington Farmland Trust could evict Dungeness farmer

Nash Huber helped preserve Delta Farm in 1999

Amy Seidewand chair making. (Lacey Carnahan)
Port Townsend Woodworkers Show ready for the weekend

Event dedicated to memory of woodworking pillar

Two ghosts dangle from a tree in the breeze in the 200 block of West 10th street in Port Angeles. Halloween events are scheduled today throughout the North Olympic Peninsula. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Ghostly visions

Two ghosts dangle from a tree in the breeze in the 200… Continue reading

Port of Port Angeles awarded $9.4M in funds

Will help move toward zero-emission goals

Potential defense workload changes could have ripple effects

Clallam, Jefferson counties brace for decision, expected in January

Leaders discuss rural reproductive health

Policy, funding and workforce shortages considered

There were no serious injuries after a two-car collision pushed a Chevrolet pickup truck into the corner of the Emporium building at the corner of Eighth and Cherry streets in Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Two-car collision pushes truck into building

A Chevrolet pickup truck collided with a building following… Continue reading

Two Totem Poles were missing from The Quileute Tribe’s 101 Building in Forks.
Sheriff’s office seeking information about missing totem poles

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information about… Continue reading

A recent snow is visible from Port Angeles on the Klahhane Ridge on Tuesday. The forecast for the rest of the week calls for high temperatures hovering about 50 degrees with a chance of showers and overnight lows in the low 40s. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Snowy peaks over Port Angeles

A recent snow is visible from Port Angeles on the Klahhane Ridge… Continue reading

Clallam County, Flaura’s Acres establish agreement

Utility Local Improvement District may be formed