Parish receives bids on community center

The parish government has selected Bryan Bush Construction of Baton Rouge to build the new state-funded North Iberville community center, but is awaiting approval from the state before letting the contract, Finance Director Randall W. Dunn said Monday.

At $2.60 million, Bush was the second lowest of 11 bidders. Dunn said the low bidder, Guy Hopkins, citing a mathematical error in his $2.077 million offer, withdrew his bid within 48 hours as allowed under state law. The highest bid came in at $3.05 million.

The construction price will cover a base bid for an 8,500 square foot building, plus three alternate bids – the addition of 1,000 square feet to the building, paving near the building, paving in front of the building and paving on the side of the building.

The Legislature allocated $2.25 million for the project, Dunn said. The parish was going to put in limestone parking lots if the contract price went too high, he said. Although the parish will have to pay for part of the project, it will be better in the long run, according to the finance director.

Dunn said he is sending the Bush contract to the state Office of Facilities Planning and Control this week, and expects to hear back within three to five working days.

Construction will start within 30 to 45 days after the state approves a contract, and will take an estimated nine months to complete.

The parish also has applied to the Louisiana Recovery Authority for hurricane recovery funds to add storage space for emergency supplies at the site.