Roofing project pulled for separate bidding, contractor approved

By Thomas Clapper

CCM Reporter

Commissioners discussed building and grounds maintenance at its Oct. 21 and Oct. 24 meetings.

Commissioner Donald Leggett II and Building and Maintenance Supervisor Ed Eick explained to the board they have been checking out roofing estimates for the annex building.

“Through the architect Habenstab there were too many discrepancies and I believe this is why there were no bids,” said Eick. “Some companies told me this is why so I got quotes through the state purchasing program.”

These contractors Eick contacted said they agree to help take off the old condensing units off the roof which was originally part of the project. 

“This project is now separated and roofing is no longer under Habenstab, but the rest of the building still is,” said Leggett. “The contractors whom we contacted through the state purchasing program will replace the whole roof, add 2.6 inch layers of insulation foam board. A lot of the sheeting under the current roof is saturated with water.”

Companies are Roof Connect at $665,600 with a 20-year warranty and Damschroder Roofing Inc. at $587,371 with a 25-year warranty. Both will try to have it done by the end of the year. Damschroder Roofing Inc., added for $12,045 the warranty would be extended five years to a 25 year warranty total and includes better material. 

“Both companies have already gone through the building and believe there is minimal damage to the decking,” said Eick. “This is nothing negative against Habenstab, but both companies said the damaged amount of roofing seems nowhere near what Habentab’s third party company reported.”

Leggett said Habenstab’s estimate would cost approximately $700,000 for just repairs and not a full replacement like Roof Connect and Damschroder Roofing Inc., are offering. 

Leggett made the motion to hire Damschroder Roofing Inc., at $587, 371 and in a separate motion the additional $12,045 five-year warranty extension was also approved. 

“I appreciate both of you for not just sitting back and taking the architect’s word on it and doing your own research,” said Commissioner Chris Modranski. “You saved the county potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

At the Oct. 21 meeting, Eick thanked his staff and several community service workers for their hard work over at the courthouse annex building. Architects had a list of demolition items that needed taken care of, and he and his staff have completed the majority of the list. The projects included removal of walk-in coolers, furniture, wall mounted items and more. Four 40-yard dumpsters were filled up. Having this work completed by staff and community service workers was a savings for the county.

In an unrelated matter, Carroll County Environmental Services Director Roy Ford and Office Administrator Stacy Taylor attended the Oct. 17 meeting to discuss billing software.

Ford asked commissioners to approve updating the billing system which has not been updated since 1997.

Taylor said the update would allow customers to pay the bill online and help send the bills out digitally as well. It can send texts and robo-calls to let customers know they have a payment or delinquent account. Customers would be able to pay by phone as well. 

Ford said the upgrade to the existing account is $12,000 a year and it will keep 30 years of data in place. Half of the $12,000 is for the system and half is for the cloud storage access. 

“This will be at no additional cost to the customers,” said Ford. “We budgeted the cost out for next year because we knew this was needing done.”

“This is a win-win for constituents because I have heard complaints about not being able to pay online,” said Commissioner Robert Wirkner.

Taylor added they are working on a drop box for after hours to people can drop off bills 24/7.