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School reroofing contract goes to Gag Sheet Metal

Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey Denny Waloch, Christie Dewanz, Matt Ringhofer and Jonathan Schiro were sworn-in to District 88’s Board of Education Thursday night. Pictured from left to right: Denny Waloch, Steve Gag, Duane Winter, Superintendent Jeff Bertrang, Christie Dewanz, Matt Ringhofer and Jonathan Schiro. Board Member Melissa Sunderman was absent.

NEW ULM — The District 88 Board of Education accepted an alternative bid of an ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) rubber roof, rather than a base bid of a built-up roof, at its January meeting Thursday.

The bids were for the reroofing of the middle school.

The lowest base bid was $572,970, from McDowell Company. It was more expensive than the alternative bid from Gag Sheet Metal (GSM) at $529,500.

The board’s Facility Committee recommended the action. Both roofs were specified to the standards of the high school roof and are covered by 30-year warranties.

The committee and board decided to take the cheaper of the two options, which was Gag’s bid.

“When it comes down to the bottom line of the lowest responsible bid, unless there is some reason to not go with one — which various reasons could come up — we go with the lowest one,” Superintendent Jeff Bertrang said.

Questions about the bid had been raised during a lawsuit filed by GSM to prevent the opening of the bids last month.

GSM had claimed that the firm used for consultation, Tremco Inc., had artificially inflated the price of requirements for the EPDM roof, the product provided by GSM.

In part due to Tremco being a competitor, GSM argued, it was an attempt to encourage District 88 to go with its product, the built-up roof.

In a hearing days before bids were to be opened, a judge denied GSM’s request. His decision left open the door for the suit to go to full trial.

After the meeting, Gag expressed some satisfaction with the decision.

“This is a step in the right direct,” GSM owner John Gag said. “I am excited that the work is going to stay in New Ulm.”

He reserved any further comments for after a meeting with Bertrang scheduled for a later date. Board member Steve Gag abstained from the vote.

On a less contentious note, the board swore-in one new member and three re-elected members.

Jonathan Schiro, the newest member, was excited and a little relieved to be through his first board meeting.

“I think it is good to have that first meeting out of the way now, so it feels good,” Schiro said. “I am ready and excited for the next year, and to be involved in the whole school district.”

Christie Dewanz, Matt Ringhofer and Denny Waloch were all sworn-in as well. Their return was unsurprising, as they ran unopposed for re-election.

The board’s next study session is Thursday, Feb. 9, at 5 p.m. in the conference room in the middle school. The next regular board meeting is Thursday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. in the boardroom at the middle school.

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.

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