"We feel like we can do this and use local contractors," said Cindy Sholar, Director of Renaissance on Main, "We have people here who are more than skilled enough to do this."
When the city received $250,000 for the reconstruction of the Mary White Building into the Cadiz Convention Center, they allowed contractors to place bids. However, all of the bids came in over budget. The cheapest bid was from Sunbelt Construction in Bowling Green for $437,207.
Sholar explained to the Council that the architects working on the project, Gresham, Henson and Perry Architecture out of Paducah, had come up with an alternative plan. "They feel like we can subcontract ourselves and come within our budget," Sholar said.
The City Council voted to reject all of the bids that were opened on March 15. Instead, the city will be doing some of the work themselves and hiring local contractors. "We can keep all of the money at home with these bids," said Mayor Lyn Bailey.
The City of Cadiz will be advertising for interested parties to place bids and will hold a pre-construction meeting for any interested parties. Examples of the work needed are: framework, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, drywall and installation, floor refinishing, carpet, ceramic tile, painting, awning, concrete entrances and fascia.
Sholar said that the city is not on a time crunch to complete this project and would like to wait until the Streetscape Phase II is finished. "We don't want to start on this project until we finish the projects we've got going now," said the Mayor.
The only structural change so far to the building's plan, is that there will no longer be a long tiered deck off the back. Instead, the current deck will be refinished and brought up to code.
