The Vilas County board quickly approved the first bid package for the $10 million courthouse addition that came in $260,000 lower than projected but adopted an amendment adding $400,000 to the project even though their resolution clearly stated project cost was not to exceed $10 million.
Included in the bid package were demolition, earthwork, utilities, site stabilization, concrete foundations, asphalt paving, and landscaping.
The budget for the these was projected at $1,421,000 with the bid total being $1,161,130 or 18% below budget.
Of the seven items in the bid package, only the asphalt paving came in almost $14,000 above budget. An amendment to add $400,000 to build out the second floor shell was offered by Supervisor Steve Doyan with the amount to be taken from the county's $7.9 million unassigned general fund; it passed unanimously.
Bid package #2 for structural steel is expected to be offered later this month.