A comparatively quiet Marathon Metropolis Council session on June 10 noticed the board lay the groundwork for addressing contractor points, rent a brand new public info officer and tackle six figures in added prices for an ongoing drainage undertaking on Sombrero Boulevard.
Contractor issues mounting
Florida Keys Contractors Affiliation president Armand Messina instructed the council that whereas native contractors noticed enhancements with Marathon’s allowing course of following a Might 2024 workshop to handle delays, related issues have not too long ago resurfaced, prompting his request for one more workshop in 2025.
“The very best format for that could be a workshop the place we are able to talk about it, civilly,” Messina stated. “This has been brewing for some time.”
Councilman Jeff Smith stated he favored extra frequent stories from metropolis workers, which have seen a number of new hires and reallocations of job duties, over a gathering with council members to make sure compliance with a 48-hour necessary response time to contractor issues – a standard thread in lots of complaints.
“I don’t know the worth we truly convey, apart from being somebody to hear,” Smith stated. “I believe you all must be getting along with workers straight away to ensure that we tackle these issues, as a result of these have been the identical issues for the final yr. … We’ve carried out a program that had 48-hour turnarounds. If it’s not being executed, we have to maintain (workers) accountable.”
Messina referred to as council members’ presence “completely essential” to indicate help for FKCA members.
“We’re very happy to see that you just’re hiring extra workers for planning, nevertheless it additionally comes all the way down to lots of different points too,” he stated. “We have to get them out within the open. … I can write them off for now as rising pains, nevertheless it’s time to resolve this stuff.”
Messina agreed to offer an overview of contractor issues and monitor progress with newly-hired metropolis workers, after which Mayor Lynn Landry and Metropolis Supervisor George Garrett stated the council might set up a workshop if points persist.
Change order scrutinized
In a 4-1 vote, with councilman Kenny Matlock voting in opposition to, the council authorised a change order of $109,174 for the continued Sombrero Boulevard drainage system undertaking.
It’s the second change order in as many months for the undertaking, which requested and was unanimously authorised for a further $46,074 in Might.
Whereas final month’s expense coated relocation of two energy poles by the Florida Keys Electrical Cooperative, the brand new change comes as a cost for rerouting underground sewer traces, the depth of which conflicts with drainage pipes to be put in through the undertaking.
“The whole for change order one and alter order two is about 3% of the whole undertaking value, which within the engineering world is fairly good,” engineer Steve Suggs of Weiler Engineering instructed the council. “I don’t anticipate any extra adjustments, however I can’t promise that.”
Matlock took challenge with a $40,000 contingency fund constructed into contractor Charley Toppino & Sons’ bid for the undertaking, stating the determine was unrealistic to handle conflicts that had been anticipated from the beginning with underground utilities, and effectively under different estimates for a similar contingencies.
“I don’t know what number of extra of those tasks we’re going to be going via with flooding our road, however hopefully we study from this when we now have to take care of this once more on one other highway,” stated councilwoman Lynny Del Gaizo.
Smith and councilwoman Robyn Nonetheless complimented work already executed by Toppino, however stated they shared the frustration of two change orders inside weeks of the undertaking commencing.
“It’s a studying expertise for us to look rigorously as we transfer ahead on extra tasks,” Smith stated. “How a lot wouldn’t it have value us to go on the market and truly find (the utilities) earlier than we finalized the contract? In all probability lower than we’ve spent on our change orders. That’s on us to study these classes and have higher practices going ahead.”
“I believe this council pushed this undertaking about as exhausting because the council can,” stated Mayor Lynn Landry. “It’s not an excuse. However while you push constraints on tasks, generally issues occur.”
Garcia to function PIO
After dialogue, the council unanimously authorised the rent of Carlos Garcia, proprietor of Consideration Media LLC, to function town’s public info officer. His contract features a most expense of $49,500 over a six-month trial interval, after which Garrett stated he hopes to increase Garcia’s companies for at the least a yr.
Town’s adopted funds included an annual expense of $36,000 for PIO companies – the quantity paid to recently-resigned PIO Sara Matthis. Line objects included in Garcia’s new contract embrace attendance in any respect metropolis council conferences, analysis and writing of media releases for numerous shops, content material and upkeep for town’s web site and social media channels, manufacturing of informational supplies, and images and videography.
“I believe this place will increase transparency for our metropolis, and I believe we desperately want that,” stated Nonetheless.
Responding to issues from Matlock over the wage for the place, Smith stated he was “fairly satisfied we’re going to get a bang for our buck, as a result of this listing (of duties) is fairly exhaustive.”
In different information:
- Tuesday’s session opened with a Juneteenth proclamation, introduced to Marathon resident and longtime group advocate Doris Hawkins to rejoice African-American historical past and heritage in Marathon.
- The council’s workshop, set for Tuesday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m., will deal with hurricane forecasting and preparations. Town will start its funds deliberations at a July 22 workshop, and an August workshop will talk about town’s complete plan and land growth rules.
- A $15,000 donation in help of Truthful Insurance coverage Charges for Monroe (FIRM) was unanimously authorised, with the intent to include the annual expense in Marathon’s funds. The group advocates in opposition to discriminatory, unaffordable property insurance coverage charges for Monroe County residents, companies and householders.
- Along with Garcia, Garrett launched Hank Kokenzie as town’s new IT director.