Mayor breaks ties on town shop change order requests

by Rhonda Swain

At their regular meeting Monday, April 11, members of the Pinedale Town Council spent considerable time discussing the controversial town shop construction.

On hand were Kasey Mateosky of KM Construction, the firm hired to build the shop, and Bob Johnson of JFC Engineering. At the March 14 meeting, the council held a lengthy discussion with Town Attorney Ed Wood and Johnson about change order requests from KM Construction on the town shop. KM had presented JFC with six CO requests, two of which JFC recommended rejecting.

The COs included price increases totaling nearly $42,000 (JFC recommended rejection of more than $22,000) and an extension of 123 days for construction (51 were denied by JFC).

With Mayor Rose Skinner and Council Member Nylla Kunard missing from that meeting, Council Member Gary Heuck said the council was: "Kind of lame right now. You know I'll vote no, so you'd be better off with a full council. I say no more money, no more time."

In the end, the council did table the requests until the matter could come before a full slate.

At the April 11 meeting, Mateosky and Johnson discussed improved communications between their firms, and updated the council on the shop.

Skinner and Carlson asked if the town is paying for some material twice, to which Wood said, "Yes, because the original claim is that the delay was due to the town."

Heuck asked Mateosky if he was "planning on finishing the shop or not?" Mateosky said, "Yes. ... I'm not here to argue," explaining that damage had been done to his company through the arbitration process.

Four change order request revisions were finally approved by the council, but only after Skinner broke ties in the voting. Heuck and Kunard both voted nay on all four, with council members Barbara Boyce and Miriam Carlson voting yes.

The first original motion by Boyce died for lack of a second, prompting Wood to explain that the council then would have to request mediation within 30 days. If it failed to do so, the change order requests would be automatically approved.

Boyce again moved to approve the first change order, with Carlson seconding, "under protest."

A change order request for $17,198 and 14 additional construction days was to replace tubing and underfloor insulation. Another request for $473 would cover increased costs for doorknobs, towel racks, toilet paper holders, etc.

Mateosky explained that contractors don't order those items when construction begins because of storage limitations. The time that has lapsed since the shop was started resulted in increased costs for those items.

Another request, this one for $1,905, was for overhead doors and motors. The increased costs were caused by project delays. A request for an additional 58 days was also approved.

After the council approved the change order requests, Skinner requested that Mateosky provide her with an updated construction schedule, to be kept at the town hall.

In other business Wes Johnston of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department requested that the council provide its traditional 50/50 funding for valley pans to be installed at the WG&F complex. Johnston said WG&F has approved $5,500 to cover its 50-percent share. The council approved the request.

Johnston, switching hats to represent the Pinedale Volunteer Fire Department, informed the council that in 2007-2008 the fire department would be requesting funding for a new aerial platform ladder truck costing approximately $750,000. He said the county felt it is the town's responsibility for the truck, since the town has approved variance requests regarding height restrictions, hence the need for the ladder truck.

Town Clerk Patty Racich told the council that she had only received one bid for an audit of the Town of Pinedale and Pinedale Airport Board books. The council awarded the bid for $24,075 to Casper firm Lovelett, Skogan and Associates to audit the 2001, 2002 and 2003 town books.

The council also approved a contract with Chambers Design-Build for $91,648 to build pavilion seating around the gazebo at the American Legion Park. The funds are available, with portions coming from a state grant and a donation from one of the area oil companies.

Council members approved first reading of ordinance 372 regarding parking tickets. The ordinance changes parking ticket regulations so that the owner of an unoccupied vehicle parked illegally is the driver of said vehicle and can be ticketed.

Just before adjourning, Skinner broke another tie when Heuck and Kunard voted against paying a JFC check presented in the bill-paying portion of the meeting. With Boyce and Carlson voting aye, the JFC bill was paid.