The Chelsea City Council approved the hiring of Midwestern Consulting of Ann Arbor as the city’s engineers for a number of upcoming roads projects at its meeting on Monday, April 6.
Although the Ann Arbor firm was not the low bidder for the job, coming in at a not-to exceed $49,500 bid, while Hennessey Engineers, Inc. of Southgate bid $42,400 — Christine Linfield, city engineer explained that their were a number of reasons for staff’s recommendation.
She said Midwestern Engineering had a 20-plus year history of working in the city and the company has knowledge of “the city’s standards and staff expectations.”
This was one of five reasons she gave for awarding the $7,100 higher bid to Midwestern Consulting. Others included the company’s quick response time to the city, something that’s been shown during the company’s history with Chelsea.
“A lot of data, they already have,” Linfield said, citing the design of Sibley Road, which is one of the roads slated for construction, as another example.
“I’m always concerned when we don’t go with the low bidder,” said Council Member Rod Anderson, who asked Linfield to put in dollar figures what Midwestern’s experience in the city was worth. “Experience, I discount,” he said, “Because we never change vendors,” adding “The difference in price isn’t trivial.”
Linfield said that Project Manager Susan Dickinson has 24 years of experience with the firm and has worked on numerous projects in Chelsea and the company’s knowledge of the city equates to about $2,500 in savings.
In addition, Linfield said, Midwestern Consulting will already be in Chelsea because the company is the engineer for the Safe Routes to Schools project that is expected to take place this summer.
The city received eight proposals for the engineering work, which ranged in price from $42,400 to $89,100.
Proposed street work includes:
- Congdon Street — a full reconstruction between West Summit and Lincoln Street
- Dexter-Chelsea Road — resurfacing between Freer Road and a point 1,900 feet west of Freer Road
- Buchanan/Filmore streets — a partial reconstruction and possible upgrade to all season standards between Main Street (M-52) and North Street
- Sibley Road — resurfacing from Main Street (M-52) and West Industrial Drive.
Several of these projects were awarded grant funding.
I see no mention of Park Street between East and Madison. Park is a heavily travelled
route as traffic use this as a back door in and out of town. It should be an
embarrassment to the city as funds are found for other street repairs and even a new
road to accommodate additional access for the recently enlarged lot at the depot. Park
has worsened from potholes to craters.
Totally agree with Dan. Park is awful.
Though not so highly used, Clardale Court is in an awful state of disrepair too.