Ames School District Hopes to Finalize Contract with RDG Monday

voted 5-1 Monday to essentially table a decision on a contract with RDG architects until Aug. 13 for new elementary buildings and renovations that voters approved in April.

The board spent more than an hour weighing the pros and cons associated with using either a construction manager or a general contractor for the building projects before voting to delay the decision.

Board President Dan Woodin voted against the delay and Board Member Bill Talbot was not present.

A draft contract with stated the board would use a contract manager as an advisor and pay RDG about $3.6 million for the design of the five projects.

The plan voters approved in April called for building a new school on Miller Avenue to replace , a new building at , a new building at and renovations at  and at

Board Member David Putz made a motion to choose an unknown number of contractors and make a final decision on which route to take during the board's regular meeting on Monday Aug. 13.

Board Member Mike Espeset explained the construction process to the board during the meeting and said his company, Story Construction, didn't plan to offer any bids.

“We are Switzerland in this. We are not going to participate,” Espeset said.

If a general contractor was used on the projects, Espeset said each potential general contractor would submit bids and the district would have to choose the lowest bidder who met all of the bid requirements giving the board little choice.

If a construction manager was used, that person would become involved earlier in the design process and then the board could hold multiple contracts for each project in addition to hiring a construction manager.

Espeset said the difference between using a construction manager or a general contractor is similar to picking a team leader or letting the market deliver one. Putz expressed concerns about how increasing the number of contracts through a construction manager could increase the district's liability if something went wrong.