Oakland’s art, history center hits snag

Residents eager to enjoy the town of Oakland’s long-awaited art and history center will have to wait a little longer after the bidding process failed to produce a suitable builder.

The town advertised in May for construction firms, and four qualified companies were approved to submit bids to build the 3,000-square-foot facility at the northwest intersection of Tubb Street and the West Orange Trail.

Two firms backed out because of stringent time requirements for the bid submission and because they didn’t have time to work with a bonding company, said Public Works Director Mike Parker.

The bids submitted from the other two companies were slightly less than and a little more than $1.2 million — much higher than the architect’s estimated $800,000.

Parker presented multiple options to elected officials July 25. These included abandoning the project, re-advertising the project, redesigning the project, giving the two non-bonded bidders adequate time to become bonded or trying to negotiate a new price with the two qualified but overpriced bidders.

The town commission voted to contact the two who qualified to see if a new agreeable price could be reached.

The town has budgeted $600,000 and has won a $225,000 grant from the Orange County Arts and Cultural Facilities Department administered by United Arts of Central Florida.

R. Miller Architecture developed the final design.

IN OTHER NEWS

• The Oakland Town Commission set its tentative millage rate at 7.75, one mill above its current rate of 6.75. The current assessed value of $239,913,933 was approved as well.

Budget meetings are set for 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, with final budget approval at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26.

• The town is searching for a new code-enforcement officer following Mike Howard’s resignation.

Contact Amy Quesinberry at [email protected].