City Manager Leif Ahnell said at a meeting last week that the city would hire a new contractor, following the firing some months back of the then current contractor over a dispute about cost and timing. Work should begin on the site by January 15th, aiming to open the library in September 2007. However, the former contractor, South Florida Construction Services In. of Hallandale says a negotiation was in process that would allow the firm to continue, with a settlement. SFCS contends that they worked for 5 months and received no payment. So far there has been one mediation session, and another is schedule. SFCS has been in business 18 years and constructed 240 projects according to their CFO, Jerry Gillman.
The 2004 and 2005 hurricanes delayed construction and the cost of building materials skyrocketed. SFCS had, according to Ahnell, failed to lock in pricing of materials before the hurricanes and the prices to the City went up. SFCS blames the city for delays in purchasing materials.
A 2003 bond issue funded the new downtown library on Spanish River Road, which is partially built now.
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