Laurel Hill City Hall roof repairs needed, but new protocol must be followed (VIDEO)

Water marks and mold from a leaking roof stain in the council chamber ceiling in Laurel Hill City Hall. An April 14 workshop will address preparing bid specifications to fix the roof.

LAUREL HILL — The City Council will hold a workshop April 14 to discuss how to proceed with soliciting bids for repairs to City Hall’s roof.

By phoning various roofing contractors, the city received four bids. Councilman Scott Moneypenny expressed concern that the bidding process was so informal that the bids have different specifications and different warranties.

“There are too many discrepancies in the bids received to make an informed decision,” Moneypenny said at the council’s April 7 meeting.

The first three bids were $24,950, $26,330 and $27,160 and also included the cost to reroof the city’s maintenance shop. A fourth bid, solicited by Councilman Travis Dewrell, was about $6,000 higher.

By passing an ordinance at the April 7 meeting establishing a formal purchasing and procurement city procedure, the council is now bound by its new policy and is required to follow Florida statutes for bids over $20,000.

Moneypenny said before a request for proposals can be issued, the city needs to prepare a statement of work it expects the bidders to follow.

Councilman Daniel Lane offered to ask the Okaloosa County building inspector to evaluate the roof to help prepare the bid specifications.

The council also agreed the City Hall and maintenance shop roof repairs should be separate projects.

The city received a $1,325 settlement from its insurance company to repair interior damage from the leaking City Hall roof, but will hold off on repairs until the roof is repaired.

The Laurel Hill City Council will hold a public workshop at 6 p.m. April 14 to discuss how to bid for City Hall roof repairs. The 2016-17 budget and whether to cancel researching dissolution will also be on the agenda. The workshop will be at the City Hall council chamber.

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill City Hall roof repairs needed, but new protocol must be followed (VIDEO)