The Normal Town council approved $300,000 for repairs to Sprague’s Super Service Station, Hewett House (the Ecology Action Center) and Broadview Mansion. The focus of this project is on repairing leaks and repairing deteriorating brick mortar.
Normal selected J. Spencer Construction based on completeness of their submittal, their strong references, and their past performance with the Town of Normal. Spencer has previously done American Disability Act work with the town.
Councilperson Karyn Smith described the work as tuckpointing in the brick work along with window and siding repairs.
According to town staff report, the town will be using what is called the work-order-contract method. In this method, the specific scope of work for each work order is prioritized and coordinated by Town staff and the architect in conjunction with the contractor. The contractor is then responsible for preparing a detailed time and material proposal by identifying tasks, labor, material and equipment to complete the work.
The report states the town will review proposals for completeness, pricing and schedule conformance. Costs set forth in an agreed to database control pricing if a dispute occurs. Upon acceptance of a work order proposal, the work order is approved, and a purchase order is issued. The Town claims this approach achieves a high degree of value and flexibility as it pertains to complexities associated with historic preservation.
Normal Director of Facilities and Energy Management Mark Clinch said, “The work is basically the same in all three places. It’s exterior building envelope preservation, maintenance and restoration.”
Clinch said, “This approach allows us to be more nimble, flexible, with what we have so we can go by priority and say ‘we want to hit that. That’s going to keep the water out.’ We get that. We move on.”
According to Clinch the sites are similar to residential properties.
“So it will be roof work,” said Clinch. “If you have a masonry house or brick, it’s the tuckpointing, the mortar between the bricks. Rooflines, anywhere where there is a potential infiltration of water is really what we are looking for. Dormers, siding, the way I describe it is the scope of the work is relatively simple for what we want to do, but it’s not easy.”
