Box Butte County
CITY SETTLES SUITS WITH BIG BLUE BAY SUBCONTRACTORS
By DOUBLE Q COUNTRY NEWS
Oct 19, 2007, 16:19

The Alliance City Council has unanimously approved seven resolutions so that seven subcontractors will receive payment for unpaid work on the city's municipal swimming pool, Big Blue Bay, thus avoiding a trial, which had been scheduled to begin in late November in Box Butte County District Court.

In case you've forgotten this history; the City had contracted with Schemmer and Associates of Omaha for the design and engineer work, and with Simon Contractors of North Platte for the building of the pool. The seven subcontractors had contracts with one of Simon's subcontractors, St. Louis Swimming Pool Co., who did not come through on payment.

In a cost cutting measure, former city manager Wally Baird had eliminated a performance and payment bond from the contract, eliminating the opportunity for the subcontractors to be paid, when St. Louis Pool defaulted.

State Statutes required the performance and payment bonds, so the City was promptly sued by several subcontractors for non-payment. Also named in the suit were the five members of the city council who were serving at the time, as well as Baird.

The settlement amounts include:
KL Wood of Alliance; $25,594.12
Corrosion Products; $17,619.16
Dutton-Lainson; $11,353.13
United Industries; $14,129.38
Hansen’s Locksmithing; $1,397.24
Panhandle Bolt; $375.48
Triangle Electric $1,397.14

The City had been sued for roughly $80,000 and settled for just over $70,000.



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