Commissioner wants street work to be done by local unemployed people, but federal regulations disagree / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, November 9, 2009

The city of Lawrence is planning on implementing a project to uncover a portion of New York Street, exposing the original brick road beneath it. The city is receiving federal dollars for the project and must seek bids from private contractors.

By Chad Lawhorn

November 9, 2009

A project to strip off the asphalt and rebuild a portion of New York Street with bricks already is a return to the olden days in one way.

Lawrence City Commissioner Mike Amyx would like for it to harken back in at least one other: He’d like the rebuilding to be a 1930s-style works program project that draws its labor force directly from the local unemployment ranks.

To Amyx, the idea makes perfect sense, given that the nearly $1 million project — which will rebuild New York from Ninth to 12th streets — is being totally funded by federal stimulus dollars.

“The laying of brick is hard work, but here’s a case of how I think the stimulus money probably could be used in a way to provide jobs to people who really need them,” Amyx said.

But it is likely not to be.

City staff members have asked the Kansas Department of Transportation about structuring the project so that the labor would come from a pool of unemployed Lawrence workers.

KDOT, which is administering the federal money, said that wouldn’t be allowed because federal regulations require that the project be competitively bid, said Chuck Soules, the city’s director of public works. They also do not allow for contracts that mandate the use of local labor, he said.

“It is 100 percent federally funded, so we have to follow their rules,” Soules said.

The federal bid requirements are set up to ensure that projects are done for the lowest and best bid, Soules said. Amyx said he understands the reasoning, but is still disappointed. He said he could envision area residents in need of jobs removing, cleaning, stacking and laying bricks.

“There are definitely a lot of different facets of this project that people who are looking for work would be able to step in and start doing right away,” Amyx said. “I felt like it had the potential to put quite a few people to work.”

Soules said the project still will do that. He said he expects local contractors to bid on the project, and it could help the winning contractor avoid laying off some of its employees.

At their meeting on Tuesday evening, commissioners are expected to start the process of selecting a contractor for the project. Bids will be opened Dec. 15, but Soules said work likely won’t begin until the spring.

He said the project, which will involve removing the two layers of brick underneath the asphalt and reusing them, should be done by the fall. Soules said one of the requirements of the project will be that work on the portion of New York Street that is in front of New York School be done during the summer when school is not in session.

Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

Discussion

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9 November 2009
at 5:17 p.m.

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edjayhawk (Anonymous) says…

Thanks you for trying Mike. Most of the time I think you are the only commissioner who really cares and wants to get something done.
9 November 2009
at 6:46 p.m.

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AreUNorml (Anonymous) says…

it's ok, probably be done more quickly and less expensively if we just continue to have our southern immigrant neighbors do the work. it's not like we have people from around here that need jobs and new skills. I really don't understand why there shouldn't be a clause that states a certain % of hired labor must come from or at least try to hire from the local area. If a town is hiring a job, it's not unreasonable to ask that some of the money somehow stays in the community.

How about if we use federal funding for something else, and use local money to do New York Street. How about this; we just hire a couple local guys to do the job regardless of how long it takes. Then we could spread out the expense over a few years and it would all go directly to our local economy. hell, I'll go down there and get started right now. If everyone in town pitched in, we could do it in a week. Cheap beer from Freestate, pizzas from Rudy's. Town Effort guys! Who's with me? Back in the oldern days, towns didn't wait around for the government to make them better.
9 November 2009
at 6:46 p.m.

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parrothead8 (Anonymous) says…

Couldn't a local company bid on the job, get it, and hire some unemployed workers to complete the work?
9 November 2009
at 7:21 p.m.

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Boston_Corbett (Anonymous) says…

If the project is so important, use local money. If it is not that important, maybe it shouldn't be done.
9 November 2009
at 7:23 p.m.

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cheeseburger (Anonymous) says…

edjayhawk (Anonymous) says…
Thank you for trying Mike. Most of the time I think you are the only commissioner who really cares and wants to get something done.

I couldn't agree more!
9 November 2009
at 7:27 p.m.

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GardenMomma (Anonymous) says…

Why not form a “company” of local unemployed people and put in a bid? It would probably be the lowest bid by far and may just get the job.
9 November 2009
at 8:02 p.m.

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workinghard (Anonymous) says…

Is this something the people along New York street want? It seems the one on Pennsylvania isn't holding up too well.

9 November 2009
at 8:17 p.m.

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mdrndgtl (Anonymous) says…

Glad this didn't happen. I like roads built without the help of lazy, jobless folks from Lawrence.
9 November 2009
at 8:24 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

The obvious solution is for Lawrence, Kansas to stop sucking at the federal teat.
9 November 2009
at 8:36 p.m.

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Godot (Anonymous) says…

Obama stipulated that the stimulus porkulous money could be awarded only to projects that use union labor.

Sorry, homeless, jobless people. Obama won't even allow you the dignity of working for your food - he will make you wait for it, beg for it, from him, because, in his eyes, you are deficient and therefore must be dependent.

Doncha just love living in Obamaworld?
9 November 2009
at 8:42 p.m.

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hunziker1 (Anonymous) says…

mdrndgtl are u realy that stupid our do you have to work at it with the unemployment at almost 10% in this country i dont think everyone thats unemployed is lazy
9 November 2009
at 8:43 p.m.

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tbaker (Anonymous) says…

So a government official (city commissioner) would like to have the power to dictate to a private construction company who they should hire?

So why doesn't Mr. Amyx just show up at the job site one day with some police, and declare that the citizens of Lawrence have empowered him to seize which ever construction company wins the contract?

He can then fire those employees he doesn't like, hire who ever he wants, and pay them whatever he wants. He can make sure the current owner doesn't have too high of a salary, or he'll fire him too. He can appoint a city official who doesn't know anything about construction to over-see the day to day operation of the company, and tell all the creditors of the construction company that it is under new management, and they are no longer entitled to a thing.
9 November 2009
at 8:46 p.m.

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hunziker1 (Anonymous) says…

godot i checked and thats not true u do not have to be in a union now im not a obama fan but before we bash lets get the info right
9 November 2009
at 8:57 p.m.

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Godot (Anonymous) says…

hunziker1: r u so ignrnt 2 not know about O's xecutv ordr?

use of project labor agreements for federal construction projects

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, 40 U.S.C. 101 et seq., and in order to promote the efficient administration and completion of Federal construction projects, it is hereby ordered that:

Section 1. Policy. (a) Large-scale construction projects pose special challenges to efficient and timely procurement by the Federal Government. Construction employers typically do not have a permanent workforce, which makes it difficult for them to predict labor costs when bidding on contracts and to ensure a steady supply of labor on contracts being performed. Challenges also arise due to the fact that construction projects typically involve multiple employers at a single location. A labor dispute involving one employer can delay the entire project. A lack of coordination among various employers, or uncertainty about the terms and conditions of employment of various groups of workers, can create frictions and disputes in the absence of an agreed-upon resolution mechanism. These problems threaten the efficient and timely completion of construction projects undertaken by Federal contractors. On larger projects, which are generally more complex and of longer duration, these problems tend to be more pronounced.

(b) The use of a project labor agreement may prevent these problems from developing by providing structure and stability to large-scale construction projects, thereby promoting the efficient and expeditious completion of Federal construction contracts. Accordingly, it is the policy of the Federal Government to encourage executive agencies to consider requiring the use of project labor agreements in connection with large-scale construction projects in order to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_o…

The O man made the mistake of putting it in the official record, so, see, he, like, he, and you , and your mindless, braindead komrades, cannot deny it.
9 November 2009
at 9:06 p.m.

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Godot (Anonymous) says…

Marion, I agree that Lawrence should stop sucking the Fed's teat - the problem is that Obama/Pelosi/Reid are in the process of milking us dry, so that we have nothing left to be stolen at the local level, so the local govs will have no choice but to grovel to Obama/Pelosi/Reid for money.

9 November 2009
at 9:20 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

The City of Lawrence, Kansas can hire whoever it likes, can set up whatever programs it likes as long as it keeps the Freaking Feds out of it.

This is not rocket science.

“Homeless” folks can be hard workers, can for the most part be reliable and are deserving of an opportunity.

Set up a program, do not rely on federal funds and get to work.

So easy even a Cave Man could do it.
9 November 2009
at 9:21 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

“Secession” anyone?
9 November 2009
at 11:24 p.m.

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maxcrabb (Anonymous) says…

Why not make the lowest bid…?
9 November 2009
at 11:30 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

Or the street could be just left anlone.

Bricks are nicey-nicey but expensive.

With all the problems that Lawrence has right now, why is the reconstruction of a 19th Century street even being considered?

Homeowners want a brick street?

Let them pay for it.

Ask those who want an outdated paving method to pony up and see what happens!
10 November 2009
at 12:25 a.m.

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Meatwad (Anonymous) says…

Schools need repair, after school programs need funding, teachers are underpaid and we are spending $1 million of federal stimulus (taxpayer) money to turn 3 blocks of New York street into a brick street. Why? There is nothing better for us to build here or use the money for?
I voted for Obama but what is going on?
10 November 2009
at 12:39 a.m.

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Meatwad (Anonymous) says…

They could use the money to install lights so that it's safer to walk at night, or use it for sidewalks that are dangerously unsafe. Or to repair potholes.
Turning 3 blocks into brick looks pretty but is a ridiculous waste of money in these times. Am I missing something?
Let's write to Obama. It's quite easy. Google “write to president obama” and there it is.
10 November 2009
at 1:50 a.m.

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BigPrune (Anonymous) says…

Isn't this extravagant and a waste? Typical government waste….in the mean time, our tar covered slippery when wet streets are just waiting for some snow or ice to go with our already nervous excitement while driving.
10 November 2009
at 6:55 a.m.

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monkeyhawk (Anonymous) says…

“hunziker1: r u so ignrnt 2 not know about O's xecutv ordr?”

Word, I love you, man!

10 November 2009
at 7:35 a.m.

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notwhatyouthink (Anonymous) says…

Why hasn't anyone posting say the real fact.

what a waste of my tax dollars! Brick streets? What is wrong with good old cement? Do they think that making the streets nostalgic will make people clean up their dumpy houses.

How many streets could be overlayed for the same price.
10 November 2009
at 8:35 a.m.

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cowboy (Anonymous) says…

Brick streets are so 1890's….plus the fact that they are absolute crapola to drive on . I doubt you could find 20 people in lawrence that would one , do this job , and two show up five days in a row.
10 November 2009
at 2:55 p.m.

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sunshine_noise (Anonymous) says…

parrtohead8: Couldn't a local company bid on the job, get it, and hire some unemployed workers to complete the work?
**************************************
I 2nd this emotion.
10 November 2009
at 2:59 p.m.

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sunshine_noise (Anonymous) says…

But why are we spending money on this? What about repaving Barker Street? Another winter is an increase in pot holes. This town waste more money on unneccasary landscaping like cutting trees down along the downtown street so you can remove those curb walls around them to put in rusted plates. Leave the large healthy trees alone they provide shade and look so pretty. I just don't get it.