|
Featured Sections Headlines Opinion Obituaries Sports Crime Blotter Happenings Country Cooking Wandering Minds Classifieds Birthdays Off The Wall On The Record Church Listings Archives Featured Columns Pastor Howle Wise Tech Tips Editor's Column Carl Langley Dr. Skip Myers Edgefield Square Registered Sex Offenders for Edgefield County Contact us Contact Info or E-mail the Editor Phone: 803-634-0964 day 803-279-5041 eve 803-279-8943 fax Mail to EdgefieldDaily.com PO Box 972 Edgefield SC 29824 Video & Audio Updates Audio Archive Video Archive School System EC District Office School Board Strom Thurmond Charter Schools Fox Creek Private Schools Wardlaw Academy Public Offices Edgefield County Edgefield Johnston Trenton Political State and Federal Legislative Contacts Local Political Parties Republican Party Democrat Party Chamber of Commerce Edgefield County Chamber Historical Edgefield Genealogical Society News links The Citizen News Aiken Standard North Augusta Star The State Augusta Chronicle Atlanta Journal United Press Associated Press FOX News Reuters CNS News WorldNet Daily Newsmax Drudge Report GoogleNews Yahoo!News New York Times New York Post Los Angeles Times Washington Times Washington Post |
  Kneece on Calliham building project: “Let us handle it, you stay out of it” web posted June 24, 2010 COUNTY – In a Wednesday afternoon interview with County Council Chairman Monroe Kneece on the decisions that have been made concerning the Calliham building remodeling, Kneece said all members of the county council had “agreed” on all decisions made so far. However, he was unable to say when the agreements took place and was unsure if it was discussed during public meetings. Ask directly who made the decision to place Building Director Mike Reed as the general contractor Chairman Kneece said, “We did. I don’t know the exact date and all on it, but we all agreed on it.” Kneece said the council “agreed on it” because “it was going to save us about $100,000.” He stated that there was going to be a vote held, but after contacting the state to make sure Building Director Reed could act as the general contractor, and got approval, no vote was held. Chairman Kneece said there was going to be a vote on the matter, possibly at the July 6 meeting. That is when the county council will take a vote on the bids that have been received from subcontractors, according to Kneece. When asked when the floor plan used to solicit bids was voted on Chairman Kneece stated the county council would vote on the floor plan at the same July 6 meeting they accept the bids. Chairman Kneece stated that the subcontractors are already submitting bids for the work under the direction and specifications provided by Mike Reed. However, the specifications provided by the county website in the bid packages are near non-existent. Chairman Kneece was asked if he had reviewed what is purported as specifications by the county and he said no. On the electrical scope of work the “specifications opens with, “Design and build an electrical system and provide plans/information sufficient for obtaining building permit.” Other sections contain much the same working. The rest of the descriptions are vague with no clear list of expected wiring requirements, number of outlets specific to each office and equipment, types of outlets and ratings, amperage requirements or limitations, and no “spec book” is provided to bidders. With no conventional specifications, each subcontractor will be able to bid the job based on pure speculation and only a single sheet floor plan as a guide. Asked how the county expected to get “apples to apples” competitive bids under such a platform Chairman Kneece said he was not worried “If t doesn’t meet the specifications we can throw it out or we can throw them all out.” Reminded again that no “spec book” is provided to bidders as to quality, quantity or mechanical drawings to bid from Mr. Kneece simply blew off the question. “Let us handle it, you stay out of it,” Kneece said adding that as long as the county council was handling the matter it was “no bother”. Reminded that public funds were being used Kneece said it was “no more of yours than it is mine”. The discussion turned contentious when it was stated three members of council have gone on record saying that there has been no vote held on the decisions that have been made thus far. “I talked to (Councilman) Rodney (Ashcraft) a little while ago and Rodney is satisfied with the way it’s handled.” Councilman Ashcraft had a different take on the conversation with Chairman Kneece. “He’s misinterpreting it if that’s what he said,” Ashcraft said. “He’s telling me everything they are doing and I just listened. What can I do? He’s the chairman, they have the majority, and all I can do is try to offer logic and inform the public.” Ashcraft said he heard “talk” that Mike Reed was “possibly” going to run the job but was unaware that any decision had been made. “It was news to me,” he said. “I didn’t know anything about the bids being placed out either until (Edgefield Daily) called me asking about it.” “They (Kneece, Dorn and Bright) are going to do whatever they want,” Ashcraft said. Merriwether Councilwoman Genia Blackwell, reached late Wednesday night while out of the country, stated she was unaware of any of the actions being taken. “I don’t remember any of that being brought up or for a vote,” she said. Chairman Kneece stated everything would be “taken care of” at the July 6 regular meeting. “Until then I don’t see where it’s any of your concern.” When it was brought up that there were problems with “the process” Chairman Kneece said, “you let us worry about the process.” Related: Who is in charge? County Council moves forward on Calliham project without votes Below: A copy of the electrical "specifications" offered in the commercial bidding process by Mr. Reed without editing: VII. SCOPE OF WORK: Design and build an electrical system and provide plans/information sufficient for obtaining building permit. Remove existing electrical panel in renovation area and conduit running to main panel in upper portion of building. Remove existing wiring and lighting in the 4,000 square foot renovation area. Provide temporary electrical outlets for other crafts during renovations. Contractor shall supply and install all equipment and material to provide a three phase power supply to 2 new roof top heat-pumps and 5 future heat-pumps. The 2 new heat-pumps shall be wired and the 5 future heat-pumps need only to be unused spaces in electrical panel. Equipment install shall be sufficient to handle future Contractor shall supply and install all equipment and material to provide lighting and power distribution to 4,000 square foot renovation area. Electrical panel for 4,000 square foot renovation area will be located in the utility room. Lighting shall consist of 2’x 4’ fluorescent drop-in fixtures. Contractor shall supply and install exit lights with emergency lighting. Power distribution shall include providing electrical outlets in all rooms. An additional 12 outlets shall be installed in the voting machine storage room. These duplex outlets shall be setup on 4 circuits or 3 outlets per circuit. Contractor shall supply and install all and material to provide lighting and electrical outlets to the exterior of the renovation area. Exterior lighting shall be 3 above door lights and 4 lights to cover the front, side, and back of the 4,000 renovation portion of the building. These lights can be roof or top of wall mounted. Exterior outlets shall consist of 4 outlets; one on the front, one on the rear, and two on the side with the main entrance. VIII. COMMUNICATION WIRING: Contractor shall supply and install all material to provide telephone connections in all rooms. Main telephone panel will be located in utility room. Contractor shall supply and install all material to provide computer network connections in all rooms. Main computer panels will be located in utility room. IX. ATTACHMENTS: Rough floor plan. Exterior is 40’ x 100’. © Copyright 2010
EdgefieldDaily.com All
original material is property of
EdgefieldDaily.com and cannot be reproduced, rewritten or redistributed
without the expressed written permission of Edgefield Daily.com
|
NOTICE:
We still need recipes for Cooking Section WEBNEWS – Send in your favorite or favorites. There is no limit to the number of recipes you can send in. With the Editor’s wife being the driving force behind her own personal section, help her create an exchange of local favorites, home cooking, grilling, sauces, and deserts! Send in your submissions here. |
