A review of upcoming roof repairs at Barton Community College last week prompted one college trustee to question whether more bids were needed.

Vice President of Administration Mark Dean presented the details at a board study session on Oct. 14, where no formal action was taken. His recommendation will be considered at the Oct. 28 business meeting.

Dean said that after inspection of all roofs on campus, the following roofs need repairs and a recoat with Gaco S42 coating:

• T-Bldg. Upper room area 15,750 sq. ft.

• T-Bldg. Lower roof area & pods 11,500 sq. ft.

• T-Bldg. Lower roof entry way 1,600 sq. ft.

• T-Bldg. South roof 16,025 sq. ft.

• Fine Arts Chapel roof 1,625 sq. ft.

• Fine Arts Classroom roof 4,265 sq. ft.

• Student Union 15,000 sq. ft.

• Dorms Phase 1 & 2 (eight buildings) 20,800 sq. ft

• Repair and foam all Fine Arts Building flashing areas, including new urethane foam and coating.

All of these roofs were previously recoated in April of 2016 due to storm damage, Dean told the trustees. This is a budgeted capital outlay project. The project will be paid for in part by the two auxiliary funds as well as the General Fund. The project cost is $365,997.

“Washington Roofing, a local contractor, is the sole provider for this type of roof,” Dean said of the Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) coating mentioned above, explaining why there were no other bids. If approved this month, the work can start now and be completed in the spring. It must be at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit to apply the spray coating.

Trustee Dale Maneth said board policy requires quotes from three vendors, but Dean said that is true “unless you have a ‘sole source’.” The college can accept a quote from a single vendor if that vendor is the only one that can reasonably provide that service. If that is done, a sole-source document is provided for the auditors.

Trustee Gary Burke noted the timeliness of the issue, saying, “We need to move forward and get this done.”

Dean said he could email other possible contractors in Kansas to see if they want to bid.

Chairman Mike Johnson noted that this could delay the process by 30 days and isn’t likely to result in bids. However, Dean said he can make the vendors aware that a response is needed in the next two weeks.