ASHLAND — Ashland County got one step closer to building a new dog shelter Thursday when county commissioners entered into contract negotiations with Simonson Construction.
The move, approved unanimously, allows commissioners to meet with the construction firm to negotiate prices moving forward.
“The base is good, it’s just a matter of negotiating some final numbers and filling in the blanks,” said Commissioner Denny Bittle.
The county is attempting to complete construction of a new dog shelter using what’s referred to as a “design-build” process.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, design-build “combines the design and construction of a project into one contract.”
It is typically a quicker process because it eliminates the time it takes to contract a designer, accept bids and build the design.
Commissioners hired VSWC Architects back in November in order to help put together architectural criteria for the design-build process. Bittle, at the time, said the dog shelter had been mostly already designed.
Simonson Construction, based out of Ashland, will be paid $258,813 in order to put a construction plan together based off the existing design — which includes potentially a grooming salon and veterinary clinic.
Officials have said the new building will have around 8,000 square feet of space on property off Baney Road.
The estimated cost of the project is $1.5 million.
Two other construction companies submitted proposals like Simonson’s.
“We were very happy that a local contractor got it,” Bittle said. “But there was no favoritism for a local contractor.”
He read from a document, which Ashland Source obtained and reviewed, that showed a point system based on a number of criteria such as relevant previous experience, a timeline, site logistics and safety plans and price.
Each construction company received a score out of 100. The one closest to 100 was awarded the contract. Simonson got a score of 94.
2K General Company received a score of 70.5 and C.T. Taylor Construction got a 70.3.
Pricing received a weighted grade of 40%.
“The dollar amount is what put Simonson over the top,” Bittle said, adding the firm’s $258,813 bid came in well below $100,000 than the other firms. 2K came in at $387,298 and C.T. came in at $393,921.
“So because of their bids … that gave them truly an advantage going in. It was a 25-point difference. If you take 40% of 100, that’s 40 points. So it really gives you an idea how close as far as their ability to do the project, how close all three of them were. I mean they were just all quality,” Bittle said.
Ashland County Community Foundation President Jim Cutright attended the commissioner’s meeting on Thursday. The foundation jumped on board a couple years ago in order to help a nonprofit, Homeward Bound, raise money for a new shelter.
The effort helped raise more than $600,000 toward the construction of the project and an endowment fund to keep it around.
“So it’s a big day … We’re just so appreciative of you sticking with it to get this project done. Ad we’re grateful that we’re in a position as a county to have the dollars available to hopefully bring this to fruition,” Cutright said, addressing Bittle.
Diane Hammontree, secretary of Homeward Bound, addressed the commissioners, expressing her gratitude. She also announced a donation that the project received: $60,414.67.
The money will go toward the project, Hammontree said.
