HCC building project bids exceed budget

October 25, 2006|by ERIN JULIUS

HAGERSTOWN - The Hagerstown Community College Board of Trustees approved two bids Tuesday that are nearly $600,000 more than budgeted to renovate the Career Programs Building.

During the special meeting, trustee members said they hoped to negotiate lower costs in the final bids and get more money for the project from the Washington County Commissioners.

HCC officials said the bids they approved totaled $17,139,300, which is $563,075 more than the available construction funds of $16,576,225.

C. William Hetzer bid $2,286,200 to construct a paved loop road and to pave the Academic Boulevard entrance.

Brechbill & Helman bid $14,853,100 to be the general contractor for the renovation. The firm also renovated HCC's Administrative Building.

The Career Programs Building was built in 1966 and once housed Washington County's Technical High School. HCC acquired the building in 1973.

After the renovation, the 76,000-square-foot building will be home to the nursing and radiography programs, a conference center and the Information Technology Department, according HCC spokeswoman Beth Stull. An additional 8,000 square feet will be built during the renovation.

The state is contributing $9,976,000 to the project. Washington County is contributing $6,932,475, according to documents provided by the HCC Board.

County Commissioners are aware of the funding shortfall, said Anna Barker, vice president for administration and finance.

The Board plans to try to negotiate the bids before approaching the county for additional funding but could ask for as much as $1 million more, Barker said.

The additional money would help pay the shortfall in the renovation project and help furnish the renovated building, officials said.

The renovated building will house new programs, including a biotechnology associate degree program scheduled to launch in the fall of 2007, which will require additional equipment, Stull said.

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