Ventnor Commissioners will try for a 3rd time; select affordable plan to build a stage / band shell behind the library at Newport Ave, site of popular summer beach concerts.
During October 24 commission meeting, officials rejected second round of bids received.
First bid of $750,000 was received and rejected in June of 2024. Ventnor Mayor Tim Kriebel admitted that not many contractors knew about that RFP, Request For Proposal, and ‘Ventnor received several inquiries after the close of bidding’.
Commissioner Lance Landgraf had no comment on the reason why so few contractors knew about the bid.
A second round of bids (Oct 2024) also came in too high.
The stage will be somewhat smaller than originally designed, but still larger than the portable stage used during this past summer.
Ventnor Mayor Tim Kriebel wants the new band shell completed before Summer 2025. With the project downsized, the bids will likely be lower.
Stage will have same look and ‘vibe’ as the Ventnor Pier structures and Ventnor’s Beach Patrol HQ.
The 3rd RFP, Request For Proposal, will go out shortly.
A decision could be made by sometime in DEC 2024.
Public questions: Why were proposed costs much higher than anticipated? Was the inflated cost due to Walters Marine being a single bidder? Don’t forget about those pesky ‘change orders’ that can jack up the final cost.
Why just one bidder? Ventnor Mayor Tim Kriebel confused why most contractors were unaware of the stage (RFP) request for proposal.
Ventnor Advisory Team: Ventnor needs to get better with legal notices, transparency, sending out RFP’s, etc.
