The Finance Committee met 07/21/2025. Most of the meeting was taken up with a presentation and vote on the city’s annual debt issuance. They did, however, have one additional action item which was a request to approve a $911,350 contract with RJM Construction to renovate the Community and Economic Development Department.
The committee voted unanimously to recommend the contract be approved.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
Four companies took out bid documents, but only RJM completed the mandatory pre-bid walkthrough and submitted a bid. Director of Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Dean Gazza noted that, because the walkthrough was mandatory in order to submit a bid, and because RJM was the only company that participated in the walkthrough, they would have known that they had no competition for the job. Regardless of that, they did not try to take advantage of the city when submitting their bid. Director Gazza’s understanding was that the owner of the company was trying to build a long-term relationship with the city.
Alderperson Chris Croatt (District 14) confirmed that RJM was not the same company that had renovated the fifth and sixth floors of City Hall and with whom the city had experienced some problems. Director Gazza confirmed that RJM was not that company. In fact, RJM had done some work on the Health Department and also completed a project in Pierce Park, both of which Director Gazza was happy with.
The committee voted 4-0 to recommend the sole source contract be approved.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1314424&GUID=637273ED-25B1-4982-B332-30B6D8E51E58
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