Updates to improvements around campus

Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:32 pm

WIU0812 wrote:Ya, those would be better areas just figured WIU would have to purchase a small plot of land then and if they could use what they already had it would be cheaper.

Oh, I see what you mean. Unless they're putting up a really big billboard, the farm there is probably a bit too far away to be easily seen from the highway unless they just put a bit #W1U on it or something.

WIU0812 · Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:37 pm

On a second though about the bike trail you could almost run a 4 foot wide trail from the train station out to where they are redoing N East St on the south side of the train tracks. I am sure there are a few people on the city board that have lobbied for a true bike trail in the past and just isn't in their budget.

Thu Feb 19, 2015 3:33 pm

Just a quick update to the Center for Performing Arts project. Bidding for the project starts next week (at which point, more information should be available). Also, the money is already set aside in a bank account for this specific purpose. From everything I've heard, there's no legal way for the state to take that money away again.
Construction is, at this point, supposed to begin late Spring or early Summer, which would likely push the timetable back a little, with them probably shooting for completion of the building by the start of the Fall 2018 semester (original projection said early 2018).

vatusay · Thu Feb 19, 2015 5:50 pm

Adams street renovation/widening was let today. UCM won the bid.

WIU0812 · Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:18 pm

good companies they will do good work do you have any idea what the amount was?

vatusay · Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:44 pm

Right about 1 mil. Yes they are great company.

WIU0812 · Tue Feb 24, 2015 3:17 pm

Looks like they may not award the bid for Adams street due to being over budget. I know in meetings the said something about it being near 900,000 and the bid came in at 967,458. They are saying it is 125,000 over engineers est which happens a lot. WIU will be paying for 72,635 of the work. Looks like they are wanting to wait and see what the bids come in at for 2 other roads they are wanting to do work to this year, but if they do it they will have to make a decision by end of April so they can get moving immediately after school is out. Perhaps the school and city just need to split the difference and get this work done.

http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/article/2 ... /150229689

sealhall74 · Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:21 pm

WIU0812 wrote:Looks like they may not award the bid for Adams street due to being over budget. I know in meetings the said something about it being near 900,000 and the bid came in at 967,458. They are saying it is 125,000 over engineers est which happens a lot. WIU will be paying for 72,635 of the work. Looks like they are wanting to wait and see what the bids come in at for 2 other roads they are wanting to do work to this year, but if they do it they will have to make a decision by end of April so they can get moving immediately after school is out. Perhaps the school and city just need to split the difference and get this work done.

http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/article/2 ... /150229689

That ain't the only bid that is too high. $12K for tablets? Come on. How many city mayor/aldermen/admins need one? You ought to be able to get a tablet capable of handling those paper-reducing tasks for a tad over $200 (iPad mini at Walmart).

WIU0812 · Tue Feb 24, 2015 5:18 pm

maybe includes software maintenance or insurance of some kind? Still is a lot I can't imagine them buying more than 10 or 20

Tere North · Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:32 am

I posted the same - huh, what - on the McDonough County Voice website.

How do you get $12K for tablets for the aldermen? The new iPad Air2 model is $499 for the wifi $16GB version that is more than adequate. Meeting minutes show Mike Wayland, Steve Wailand, Mellie Gilbert, Dave Dorsett, Clay Hinderliter, Tom Koch, Don Wynn, and Dennis Moon as the aldermen. 8 x $499 is just under $4K.