The $34,000 Stearn's Park Men's Room Fix-Up Update

[XLFD]

The Mystery of the Expensive Men's Room Repairs

At the Nov. 26, 2012 Ludington City Council a concerned citizen came forth with an incredulous tale at the public hearing for Ludington's Budget: 

"Now I will focus on some of the negative aspects of the budget, stuff that makes me wonder about the competency of the people that make these budgets each year for the City. If they are competent, then I worry more about where all the extra wasted money goes. For example: the City will renovate the men's room at the North concession stand at Stearn's Park for the price of $34,000.

That's right, it's not a misprint, it's referred to twice in the budget: $34,000 for fixing one men's room at Stearn's Park.  The notes say it is in terrible condition. Even if every single thing inside that restroom is fixed, painted, and/or replaced, I can't see the cost being one-tenth of $34,000. Are they going to use solid gold commodes and urinals? 25 K Gold signs, maybe?

There are several houses you can buy within the city limits for under $34,000, but that's what the City has budgeted for fixing up one men's restroom. Someone can make a year's salary by doing a week's worth of work."

                                           " John "

                                                 " Shay "

This was detailed more here:   beyond-expensive-water-closets-and-water-tanks

 

This was reflected in the budget in two places:

As stated, I cannot envision how a frugal government body could spend $34,000 to fix up a bathroom.  Replacing fixtures should cost about a hundred dollars per fixture plus labor.  New tile all around, new paint, new doors, dividers, etc. has me even balking at the figure of $3400, no less $34,000.  So I did what I normally do in such instances:  I went for answers through a FOIA.

 

Mystery Solved!

 

I sent the following FOIA request to City Manager John Shay last week after the meeting, with the usual parameters:  "I am requesting to personally inspect the following public records, or receive scanned or electronically transmitted records (whichever is most economical) for :

All documents (including bids, estimates, letters/E-mails to contractors/vendors, etc.) that assisted the Budget Committee to arrive at a $34,000 budget figure to 'renovate the men's room' in the North concession stand at Stearn's Park."

 

And received the following earlier today:

 Response%20to%20Rotta%27s%20FOIA%20Request%2011-29-12.pdf

Apparently, $34,000 is the usual number that John Shay and his crew of budgeteers assigns to fixing up a men's room at a concession stand at Stearn's Park.  Does something smell a little like a men's room in need of renovation?  Is anyone seeing a pattern here yet?

[Lisa O'Brien]

Sorry guys but the jacuzzi tub is in my house in down state Michigan, out here I rent and it's a plain old bath tub. Besides like I said they are highly overrated and a pain to clean,but when I renovated the bathroom it was like $200 more than a regular tub, so I thought why not live a little and bought it - big mistake.

[AQUAMAN]

Sorry for that snafu for ya Lisa, but for the record, where can we try out the Jacuzzi in Michigan? Since it's much closer, and you aren't there afterall, wtheck, lol. In all honesty, can you tell us the mfr./make so we don't repeat that mistake? That's what real Torchers do, help one another, at least I would hope in this economy, and just for exchange of info. & courtesy of course.

[Lisa O'Brien]

I'm not sure the manufacturer or model - I bought it at home depot. The tub works great, the problem is the maintenance/cleaning of it. To clean it, you have to fill the tub and pour in this  jet cleaner in it and turn it on and let it run for 5 minutes, drain then fill up turn on for another 5 minutes, drain and repeat once more - supposedly this cleans out the jet system - but it doesn't really clean the jet nozzles, for this I had to buy a baby bottle brush and since the sides are taller than a normal tub to avoid bruised ribs you have to climb in it and clean all the jet nozzles. Just to clean the tub took almost an hour. In the place I rent here - I can scrub the tub and tile on the shower in under 20 minutes.  Jacuzzi tubs are great if you don't mind the time spent keeping it clean. 

[In Dulci Jubilo]

In the warm months, I have a five mile walking route the leads me out to the end of the break wall.   A visit to the women's restroom at the south concession is sometimes in order.   It's in good working shape and for a beach bathroom, not objectionable at all.   I don't understand how the men's facility can differ so much in condition from the women's, unless the latter was rehabbed at a later date.

[Willy]

Trying to remember back to summer I recall the men's room door was damaged and the room had a funny smell and was on the dirty side but all of that can be fixed with common maintenance. In my opinion the Council needs to itemize each repair and explain why it's needed to justify such a large expenditure. To just declare a blanket cost of $34,000 does little to explain to the taxpayers the "why's and what's" of the needed repairs and that seems to be a major problem with the current governing body. I don't know if it's arrogance or if they are trying to hide something. They need to do a better job of communication. The current guard act like they own the town and can do damn well what they please.

[AQUAMAN]

I second that post Willy. To me at least, it would seem they have indeed talked to a least one contractor to just get an off the cuff estimate of expense. Or did the parks and maintenance planners just pull $34K out of the hat? Methinks there is something/someone in the background hiding in the shadows to make this kind of estimate, and that is in keeping with the way things are done in Ludington nowadays, behind the scenes, and it's none of our business to ask. And speaking of tiling, I don't remember where that part is bad at all. Unless you mind cleaning old tile with bleach and scrub brushes, it lasts indefinitely, unless someone takes a hammer to them. Maybe some grout may be in order too, cheap.

[XLFD]

Here's what is likely to happen.  Tye's Inc. will do the job for $24,000 and say they've saved the City of Ludington $10,000 in the COLDNews.  Bless you, Boys!