Absurd, Ridiculous and Unethical

That’s sure nice of Mr. Fox to be watching over us.

I suppose I could come up with a few more words to describe the recent ‘review’ of the 300 Building, but I think we will just start with those three. Having the EXACT team of private developers/contactors that was assembled to build a proposed NEW city administration building do the review of the viability of the 300 building is, well, a gigantic conflict of interest. But where it gets ridiculous is when the director of Central Services says they only used blueprints to determine it wasn’t viable. Huh? It would be like buying a used home based on the same thing. A walk through and home inspection usually occurs on said property. But what is even more absurd is the notion that a ‘third party consultant’ looked at the review the conflict of interest contractors put together and they agreed with it. But we have to leave that ‘national’ consultant ‘anon’ to protect their reputation. WTH? If they have a great reputation they should stand behind the review. Most likely this imaginary consultant doesn’t exist and their report was filed in the same place the event center siding report was. Never-Neverland.

As I was driving by city hall late this morning I noticed a person from the ‘review’ committee leaving city hall with a big binder in their hand, dress rehearsal for Tuesday’s informational meeting must of wrapped up early.

Whether you are for a new building, remodeling an existing building or against the project all together isn’t the issue here, the issue is the conflicts and the ethics (or lack thereof). Just look what the review contractors have made so far and what they are set to be paid if they build the NEW building;

Koch Hazard (Architect)

Phase 1 – $85,000 already paid

Phase 2 – 4.85% of the Cost of Work – as defined in 6.1 total cost to the owner to construct all elements of the project and shall include Construction Manager’s general condition costs, fee, and contingency.

*We also reimburse all out of pocket expenses for the contractor (no markup)

PHASE 2 COMPENSTATION: 21.9 million dollars (project cost) * .0485 = $1,062,000 (NOT COUNTING REIMBURSEMENTS FOR OOP)

Henry Carlson (CMAR):

Phase 1 – $43,288 already paid

Phase 2 – Construction phase – 3.5% of the cost of the work including the construction manager’s contingency, general conditions, and work in the GMP – this is the construction manager’s fee

PHASE 2 COMPENSATION: 21.9 million dollars (project cost) *.035 = $766,500

Of course they don’t support remodeling the 300 building, how much more blatant and rigged could we get? It seems if it was not for public projects, Koch Hazard would be out of business these days. Not only should the presentation of the review NOT be allowed on Tuesday, an ethics complaint should be filed against the director(s) that made such an ignorant decision, and if it was at the directive of the mayor, he should be brought up on ethics violations also.

Not only is city government getting more predictable, they are getting blatantly ridiculous at the same time.