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Show Page 15b The Utah Enterprise Review, March 2, 1977 Contractor-Subcontract- Continued from page lb become more pronounced with a Utah Senate bill being proposed by Ernest Dean. Senate Bill 150 would regulate the method in which a general contractor prepares a bid for a public work list. It would require the name and license number of each subcontractor to be used, would allow no substitution of a listed subcontractor and would impose stiff penalties for any violations. The subcontractor feels discourage bad and practice, according to Bob Merrill, Lauren Burt, of Inc., and president-elec- t the subcontractor's association, it would assure fair practice and be a boon to the entire construction industry. Tim Whittaker, administrator of the Builders Bid Service, which is a clearing house for all subcontractors bids, points out many it would agencies already require such information at the time of the bid, as do many other states for public work bids. What happens is a general contractor receives bids from subcontractors, he compiles a total price, and submits it. Assume he is awarded the contract. If he can find a subcontractor who can do a particular job for less then the figure he used to compute the total contract price, he pockets the difference. It doesnt happen often, but when it does it is a great injustice to the tax- payer, Whittaker Relations or ex- plained. Joseph Howa, Howa Construction, is vehemently It is opposed to SB 150. physically impossible to prepare a bid as this bill requests. Many of the subs Economic Facts Now Available The latest edition of County and Community Economic Facts is now available. Published by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Utah, the fact sheets are free, and can be found at most chambers of commerce, and many local organizations. The publication lists the most recent, accurate information about Utahs 29 counties and 102 of the states incorporated cities It includes and towns. details about population, government services, tax structure, education, natural resources, employment and other economic indicators. It was prepared for the Utah Industrial Development Division, which sends the sheets to companies inquiring about relocating in Utah. dont present us with their bid until the very last minutes before a bid is to open. And not all subs bid on all items, Howa noted. The subcontractor is asking the general to regulate an industry he cant seem to handle himself. Its the unethical subcontractor who has the most to gain from this bill, Howa charged. Horace Gunn, executive manager of Associated General Contractors, admits bid shopping and bid peddling It exists, but maintains, takes two to tango. Yet proposed legislation imposes rigid penalties on the general for violations. The bill provides that, at the descretion of the award ing authority, the contract may be cancelled, a penalty assessed not to exceed 10 percent of the amount of the subcontract involved, and disciplinary action taken by the contractors state advisory board. Gunn advocates refinement of the present bid service system, which keeps both the subcontractor and the general ethical. He added the machinery exists to keep unfair practices from occurring without subjecting one part of the industry to unjust regulation. I suggest we not interfere with the free marketplace by keeping out more government regulation, he concluded. Commercial Park Under Construction A commercial park de- signed for office and storage space is being constructed at 17th South 1700 West. The $1.25 million pro- ject. called Seventeenth Square, is being developed by Capitol Industries. According to Keith Romney, Jr., executive vice president, the development will contain two commercial buildings with 4300 total square feet and an 800 square foot restaurant facility. Romney said the project would be a turnkey operation. The rental package would be determined from individual tenant requirements on a pro rated basis of square footage on both warehouse and finished floor Capitol Industries space. will finish the interiors also barH d on the figure. The idea is to have office and warehouse space available under one roof, Romney stated. The first building, which pro-rate- has been leased by Kenson Food Brokerage, is complete. The second commercial building and restaurant will be finished by September, Romney said and nearly 40 percent of available space has been preleased. A unique feature of the park, the developer pointed out, is the amount of open and green space. He explained that three quarters of an acre of the four-acr- e development will be devoted to a green belt. The commercial park is also surrounded by a golf course. ; |