Projects for public require vendor accountability

Taxpayers want to get what they pay for — especially when it comes to construction projects.

In most cases, public officials are expected to ensure that whoever is responsible for the proverbial “checklist” on a project follows through so everything meets the agreed-to-specifications. When that doesn’t happen taxpayers and public officials get angry. Whether it is a road, a school or a sidewalk that isn’t up to par someone is expected to make sure taxpayers don’t get shortchanged so everyone can live happily ever after.

 The Ottawa School board is in the midst of trying to do just that. Several recent construction projects didn’t turn out as expected. Leaky roofs, cracked floors and insufficient heating and cooling systems lead the list of  the district’s dissatisfaction for work paid for from the recent school bond issue. Board members take the expectations very seriously and are saying so publicly. Some uncertainty remains on where the fault lies in this case, but the bottom line is getting the work fixed.

 At last week’s Ottawa Recreation Commission meeting as board members discussed which architect to select to design a new multi-purpose indoor turf arena/recreation center, Marge Stevens, a USD 290 board member was put on the spot and asked her opinion about the district’s experience with two of the three architect’s on the ORC’s finalist list. Stevens reluctantly said she didn’t want the ORC board to experience the same pain in their stomach that the Ottawa school board was experiencing trying to make sure all the work was completed satisfactorily. The board hired a consultant to review the work and to determine where the fault lies and what recourse is available.

 The ORC ultimately selected Lawrence architect Gould Evans — the same one being used by the school district for its facilities master plan.

 It is doubtful that any vendor will always perform perfectly, which makes it imperative that contractors, sub-contractors, architects and others complete work appropriately. If the workmanship isn’t up to par then those same vendors need to come in and fix the work. Franklin County endured the same process when new road construction didn’t hold up. Eventually engineers were brought in to figure out why the road construction didn’t hold up under early use and then the road was repaired appropriately.

 Boards need to hold vendors’ “feet to the fire” when their work doesn’t match expectations on behalf of taxpayers.

Government work is work for the people. It must be good from the start and if it isn’t, at a minimum, it needs to be made so.