Utility work on the south part of Williamson Valley Road in preparation for January construction could begin this week after the Board of Supervisors approved a $5.9 million roadwork contract yesterday.
Fann Contracting Inc. of Prescott, the lowest of nine bidders, will do the work, said Phil Bourdon, public works director. The project will widen the road to four lanes from Shadow Valley Ranch Road to Pioneer Parkway. Fann's bid was 31 percent less then the engineers' estimate, Bourdon said.
"We got a screamin' deal, to put it in professional terms," he told the supervisors.
Regional transportation studies dating from 1995 call for widening the road, Bourdon said. The plans also call for improvements to the intersection of Pioneer Parkway and Williamson Valley Road. A portion of the project that the City of Prescott must complete will proceed separately.
By hiring a local contractor, the supervisors are putting "our folks to work," Supervisor Chip Davis said.
Supervisors chairman Tom Thurman suggested encouraging Fann to take the dirt that it removes for the road project to the evidence yard on Commerce Drive where county officials plan to remodel and expand various offices.
"Our staff will work with the contractor and see if it works out," said Bourdon. But he noted that while the contract doesn't obligate Fann to dump the dirt there it would be "in the contractor's benefit to have less of a haul."
The supervisors also agreed to reduce the tax assessment for a motel in Ash Fork owned by Mark and Lorna Savage to $123,000. The full cash value of the property increased from an assessment of $112,105 in 2008 to $430,063 in 2009. Chief county appraiser Dave Hanson said the tax rate for the property had been frozen in 2007 under previous appeals. Hanson said the greater amount is based "straight cost, not income."
Mark Savage told the supervisors that he has owned the motel for 14 years and that it used to be profitable until the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad stopped lodging its employees there in 2002. Also, quarries in the area have closed, so fewer guests stay at his motel, he said.
"Mr. Savage is absolutely right," said Supervisor Carol Springer. "Not only the loss of the railroad but the continued down economy (should be considered)." The slate business in that area is also "devastated," she said.
Afterward, Savage said that he was grateful to the supervisors who were "very fair to me."
In other business, the supervisors met in executive session then announced that Chad Daines, the director of development services, resigned. Daines, whom the county hired in June 2008 and appointed director in December 2008, earned $97,018 annually. Daines left for personal reasons, said Julie Ayers, the county administrator. The board appointed Land Use Unit Manager Steven Mauk as interim director.
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, December 11, 2009
Article comment by:
override ???
The articel said { WE GOT A SCREAMIN DEAL ] . Lets see the final cost after Fann is done ..
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Article comment by:
Black Helicopers are flying again
It's of little use to argue, some "Johnny come lately to Prescott folks" think it is in vogue to bash Fann and accuse him of getting all the local "BID" work ONLY because he "pays off politicians". I sure wish one of you would say exactly WHO is getting paid off and how you know this information. Or if you are simply making wild allegations you should reveal that you are just making up crap to sound tough and trying to belong to the Prescott Downers Club.
Posted: Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
To the other "No Names" et. al.; I agree with you 100 percent! Let's award the job to the second bidder who was a half a million dollars higher than Fann's bid. The second bidder is from Phoenix, so I'm sure they'll only employ local people, hire local subcontractors and buy from local suppliers. Oh, I'm also certain that they will contribute to local charities and non-profits, too. In short, we'll get to spend a half million dollars more of our taxes and watch our money leave the community vs. recirculate within it. Are you folks really that hateful?
Posted: Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Gary Hudder
It's great news that one of our local contractors was the successful bidder. Although is is unfortunate that Fann had to get so cheap to beat some of the very desperate Phoenix contractors, the public treasury benefits. You all should applaud the fact that YOUR money will be paid out in wages here, and will be spent many times over in this community!
Posted: Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Kerrie
I bet Fann knows there is probably hard granite rock in the area - since they are a LOCAL, QUALITY Contractor!
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Stephen O
To all of the "no name provided" comments. You obviously do not have any idea how the bid systems work! It would be a great idea for you to spend some time and learn. Fann contracting is a highly skilled company that produces quality work. You apparently have a grudge against them for some reason. Do some research and look at the work they have done around this community and all the people they have helped out in one way or another. Also, i have often wondered why people are not willing to give out their name when they are negative towards the issue at hand. Is it because they really do not know what they are talking about, or are they just playing follow the leader, but they really dont know who the leader is.
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Fred Lockwood
You people just don't get it,.Fann Fann Fann.Get over it! It's not who you know ,its called bidding.
Wait until the job is done the work will speak for it's self.O-just so you know I work for Fann.I'm sure the nasty letters will soon follow.
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I would be shocked if someone else actually got it. I guess Fann has some big pockets for all of these people to fit in.
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Article comment by:
SANDRA MAYS
Is this suppose to be a surprise? No surprises here folks!
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Yavapai resident
Thank you Board of Supervisors for keeping it local. Lets support our local work force.
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Fann, Fann, Fann. When will our administrators learn that the bid that was 33 percent lower will turn into the job that costs 75 percent more?
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I guess its true, It not who you know.... you can figure out the rest
