By Margaret Hopper

The Joan's Street bid mentioned in the August 28 Cobre school board meeting was given
in writing on Friday, August 31, 2012, from Superintendent Peru's office.

The original bidding on the Joan's Street Erosion Control project ended November 30, 2011. Six contractors offered bids and were entered on Cobre's control sheet, with bids being opened at 3:33 p.m. on that final day. Personnel signing as witnesses to the action were Jose Carrillo, Associate Superintendent, Rich Rounds, Southwest Concrete, Javiar Salas, SPED Coordinator, John Benavidez, High School Principal and Irene Godoy, Administrative Assistant.

Evatt Contracting of Arenas Valley:        $34,642.00
Runyan Construction, Silver City:            $16,493.59
Fowler Brothers, Silver City:                    $41,870.00
Garcia Fence, Bayard:                               $18,999.00
Southwest Concrete, Silver City               $96,710.00
Roms Construction, Santa Clara               $45,275.00

The bid was awarded to Runyan Construction at that time, but construction did not begin
until the end of August. According to Interim Superintendent George Peru, the delay was caused by wet weather early on, and a chance to redesign the plan for greater economy later. The wide differences in the bids resulted from different perceptions of the bidding
contractors. Peru said each one was allowed to discuss it with the District, but the answers and prices came out very different, which was surprising, given the wide spread.

In the months after the bid was awarded, Runyan’s Todd Hamilton wrote Cobre a letter on 8/15/12 stating the the bid had been further reduced to a lump sum of $13,721 plus tax. According to Peru, the firm had come up with another money saving idea in the wire mesh retaining material.

As Hamilton wrote, “Runyan Construction will provide the labor, equipment and material to remove a portion of chain link fence. (They would) load, haul and replace a compacted barrow material in the area that had erosion problems; grade an area that is approximately 100 feet long X 22 feet wide; (and) place wire mesh and concrete in the area. A small wall curb from the street curb down to the ditch will be constructed. A set of concrete cylinders will be provided. The concrete slab will be 4 inches thick. The fence will be reinstalled.”

Originally, Peru said they had asked the State for help, but seeing that fall through, Cobre had asked for help through the bidding process. The district will pay for it, and now it will finally get done.