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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: September 26, 2022 <br />TOPIC: Upper County Road Maintenance Shop Air Leakage Assessment <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook and Darren Case. <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Authorize a request for qualifications repairing air leakage at the Upper County Road <br />Maintenance Shop. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• At the end of 2021, Public Works (PW) settled construction claims with Blews <br />Construction at the Upper County Road Maintenance Shop. <br />• The settlement avoided an anticipated costly lawsuit. <br />• Public Works settled the construction claim knowing significant deficiencies in <br />building construction were likely to manifest during startup operations. <br />• In June 2022, PW conducted an air leakage assessment at the new shop facility. <br />• PW desires hiring a qualified architectural firm to manage building repairs. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />PW settled with Blews Construction avoiding a lawsuit late in 2021. During the winter, <br />significant problems manifested themselves with the Heating Ventilating and Cooling <br />(HVAC) system. In June 2022, I directed Construction Manager Case to hire a specialty <br />firm to evaluate the metal skin building defining the extent of the air leakage problem. <br />The evaluation is complete, and we now need to implement repairs. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />PW knew we were likely facing significant post construction repairs to the newly <br />constructed Upper County Maintenance Shop when we settled our lawsuit with Blews <br />Construction late 2021. The extent of necessary repairs is consistent with our suspicions <br />of poor metal building construction allowing significant air leakage in the building. PW <br />does not possess the experience or expertise to attract repair consultants or to manage <br />building repairs. PW desires hiring an architectural firm with metal skin building <br />experience to manage the repair project for us. Once the architectural firm is in place, a <br />separate solicitation to qualified contractors will be issued. <br />PW will begin working with the Prosecuting Attomey's Office in October developing an <br />Ordinance enabling the Board to place qualifying contractors on a "Not eligible to bid" <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2022 <br />