Brandon Twp-Three area businesses are among 40 companies awarded bids by the Brandon School Board for work on the Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School renovation project.
Rob Busby, assistant project manager for Skasaka USA construction organizers for the Brandon School District project says they try to find contractors that are located in the area. Skasaka USA was hired by the district last year to cordinate the projects of the $74 million bond extension.
‘Many of the contractors we hire are local workers or live in the area. Some of the workers have kids in the school system,? said Busby.
Busby says that within the Flint, Detroit area there’s plenty of qualified tradesman to choose from’many are pre-qualified with Skaska to do the public work. Many too have worked on similar types of contruction.
Some of the first projects will be renvoations to the Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School which will include a new parking lot, mechinal upgrades, ventalation systems and boiler repacement. In April renovations to Belle Ann Elementary school will begin which includes a new gymnasium, art room and music room.
The cost on Brandon Fletcher is estimated at $5.6 million and will be completed by the fall of 2007. The Belle Ann Elementary project will $5 million particially completed by Labor Day 2007. The gymnaisum will be open in 2008.
At a cost of $89,041, R&R Earthmovers, Inc. 175 Wolfe Road, Ortonville was the low bidder for earthwork and site utilities for the renovations. R & R Earthmovers, Inc. owner Rod Betts has been in business since 1992 and says his company will remove the old parking lot at Brandon Fletcher and improve the drainage in several locations around the school. The project will be in two phases and completed in about two months, said Betts.
‘We’re excited to work here in town’we’ve done other jobs at schools including Waterford School District.?
Betts two children, Greg and Amie both are Brandon High School Graduates.
Also winning a bid for renvoations work on Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School was Smooth Finish Concrete of Goodrich. The bid awarded was for $43, 648.
Last month Ortonville-based Mills Mechanical, a commercial plumbing and mechanical contractor, was awarded a contract for $1,425,747 for mechanical work for Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School.