The West County Wastewater Board of Directors voted 3-2 on December 16, 2020, to adopt a disputed and exclusive Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for all future work. This PLA attempt was battled for almost a year, but three board members refused to be confused by facts and statistics.
The repercussions of this decision have now surfaced.
The board of directors decided on September 21st to reject Blocka Construction Inc.’s single offer for the Water Quality Resource Recovery Plant Electrical Improvements Upgrades Project and authorized the General Manager to re-issue the solicitation. Why? The project, expected to cost $1,995,000, received just one bid, which was $3,898,000, or 95% more than the engineers’ estimate!
This is another painful lesson for those who prioritize the demands of significant labor special interests over the best interests of workers and taxpayers.
