Dunlap schools will use an out-of-state contractor for its new athletic training center.
The school board this week voted to approve a construction management contract with Iowa-based Estes Construction for its new 37,500 square foot facility.
That's raised the ire of local companies. Carla Jockisch is executive director of the Greater Peoria Contractors and Suppliers Association.
"By overlooking these firms, the district misses out on the economic and social benefits that they will provide. Working with them will keep the economic impact within our district, supporting job creation and local spending," she said.
Peoria-area contractors criticized the district for not formally putting the project out to bid, but superintendent Scott Dearman claims they don't have to because it's exempt from requests from qualifications, or RFQ, requirements. He said a friend, Tim Erickson at CORE Construction, told him it would be hard to keep the project within the district's $8.5 million budget.
But he said Estes jumped at the challenge after he was connected to them through a relationship at the district's bank. He said it's a good deal for the district.
"If it doesn't come in at eight and a half (million), we don't owe them a penny. We haven't paid them a thing. We have not sent them a check at all, and we won't until they come in at eight and a half and they've signed a contract guaranteeing that," Dearman said.
Board member Tom Feldman pressed Dearman on some of the specifics around the contract, including the cost. He also asked if the proposed building designer, Vantage Architects, is affiliated with Estes Construction since the two companies share an address.
Dearman said there's a $300,000 cap on construction management costs, but change orders subject to board approval could increase that. He said he wasn't sure about the relationship between Vantage and Estes. The architectural contract wasn't on the table for a vote Wednesday night.
Board member Andrew Tyra was one of two no votes, along with Feldman. He said keeping taxpayer dollars local is important.
"I know you don't have to do an RFQ. You made that clear," Tyra said to Dearman. "But it's poor optics for us as a district to look outside our area for a job this size, if I'm being honest."
But board member Mike Wisdom said local labor will still be needed for much of the heavy lifting on the construction project.
"99.9% of the entire project are most likely going to go to our local union people. So $7.98 million is going to go to our local people, assuming they (Estes) bid right, which I'm sure they will," he said. "So it's not like we're taking a huge chunk of it, sending it out of the district or the state."
The new athletic complex is set for completion in early 2026. The district plans to pay for the project entirely out of reserves.
