SMITHFIELD – The cost to replace one of two boilers that heats the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center (SRAC) building and pool is more than double the initial estimate. SRAC repairs are shared between the Town of Smithfield and Johnston County Public Schools.
In a November 4, 2021 email from Weston Hockaday, Engineer of Energy Management with Johnston County Public Schools Facility Services, to Parks & Recreation Director Gary Johnson, Hockaday estimated the total project cost at $140,000 to replace the boiler.
Based on the information, the Town of Smithfield earmarked $70,000 in the 2022-23 Fiscal Year budget to pay their share.
In a February 3, 2023 email from Hockaday to Johnson, he said bids were received, and the lowest bid was $290,804, more than double the initial estimate. Other bids ranged from $297,000 to $468,000.
During a recent meeting, the parks and rec director told Town Council members the SRAC has two boilers and the one scheduled for replacement has not been in operational in six months. Both boilers were installed when the SRAC was constructed. They are designed to last 15-20 years, Mr. Johnson said.
The Town Council agreed to take $75,152 from the General Fund Contingency line item to add to the $70,000 already budgeted, to bring the Town’s share to $145,152. The remaining cost of $145,652 will be paid by Johnston County Public Schools.
Way to bury the lede! The real question here…. why was the estimate so far off? I mean, I expect professional engineers to be 10-20% off, but 50%?!?!? Seems like somebody initially low-balled the estimate.
That’s 100% not 50%.
@Click: The estimate ($140K) was 50% of the actual bid ($290K).
In 2021, it was less most likely because after the illegal lockdowns, the supply chain was not yet effected. Plus, companies needed work to recoup losses from illegal lockdowns. Now, with the Bidenomics inflation, I would expect it to be higher, but that much higher? Also, the question is why they can’t get a PO and the work started closer to the estimate date. No company can realistically honor 2 year old prices.
@Jean: You didn’t read the article. No company gave a price — the engineer made up a projected cost.
What I like is the county comes up with this amount and the school system comes up with this amount, what it equals up to is the TAX PAYER, who is US!
Jerome powell money printer go brrrr
Sounds like the engineer didn’t have his act together with the estimate. What’s Jerome Powell got to do with it? oh how we conveniently forget who put Powell in charge of the Fed in the first place.
@FDT: This is the correct take. We should be blaming the inept JoCo school board and the engineer who made this bad of a mistake. #VoteOutIncumbents