Independence Township officials will seek building proposals for an addition to the Department of Public Works complex, but an automatic car wash is not part of the package.
The township board on Tuesday, July 1 approved a plan submitted by Dave Belcher, director of facilities and maintenance.
In addition to giving the DPW more room for their vehicle storage at the Flemings Lake Road complex, the addition will also provide a place for facilities and maintenance to store their equipment.
While the addition will include a separate area for washing vehicles, the plan no longer includes automatic washing equipment. That feature caused significant debate in April when trustees approved $5,700 for architectural drawings.
DPW Linda Richardson said employees would continue to use manual power washing equipment to maintain the fleet of about 35 vehicles. Previously, she said having DPW employees handle that task costs about $28,000 annually.
The addition, to include a 110-by-64-foot garage, a 20-by-60-foot wash bay, septic system improvements and new paving, has an estimated cost of $442,000. The proposal is a scaled back version of an original proposal with an estimated price tag of $810,700.
Belcher asked for permission to seek specific proposals from several specific builders rather than go through the traditional competitive bid process.
‘I want to try to get a total number so I can come back to the board with something definite for a price,? he said.
‘I think that’s a good idea,? Clerk Joan McCrary said, referring to Belcher as the township’s ‘general contractor? for the project. ‘It seems it will save weeks of work, time and money.?
Supervisor Dale Stuart agreed, but emphasized that the report to the board must be specific for budget purposes.