WAUPACA COUNTY POST

March 24, 1921

BIG CONTRACT FOR BUILDING MACHINE SHED

COUNTY COMMITTEE FAILING TO OBTAIN RESONABLE BID

CHOOSES COST PLUS PROFIT PLAN

The County Board at its November session, authorized the County Highway Committee to arrange for the construction of a shed to house the road machinery belonging to the county.

The building was to be located on the east side of Jefferson street opposite the Court House, where the old Gil Lytle livery stable stood for many years. When it was learned that the plans called for an office for the County Highway Commission, a discussion was started regarding the expense of maintaining and heating an office and it was suggested that office room int eh Court House would save a considerable sum annually in janitor service and fuel. There was even some discussion over the policy of building a brick structure in the heart of the city and on a street that will doubtless soon be paved in a manner that will cause damage when heavy tractors are run over it.

Considerable sentiment is said to have grown up in favor of an early session of the Count Board to reconsider its action of last November. Not a few members of the County Board were quoted as being favorable to some change which might save several thousand dollars initial cost and a considerable annual expense of what might be required under modified plans.

The committee sought to get bids and the prices being higher than seemed reasonable, it was decided to let the job on a cost plus profit basis.

In response to the sentiment favoring an early session of the County Board, County Clerk Shoemaker prepared notices for a call for a spring session to begin April 14. It was then noted that since the supervisors from cities take office May 1, the newly elected members from the cities would not have qualified before April 14, so it was decided to issue a call for a spring session on May 2, instead of in April as first planned.

It is safe to say that were the Board to meet early next week there would be a thorough review of the action of the Highway Committee in being so hasty in awarding the contract on the eve of the spring session fo the County Board, especially as it seems probable that eh cost of the proposed building may exceed the appropriation of $15,000 besides the ten per cent additional allowed on the cost plus profit plan of warding public contracts.