Huge piles of rubble fill the site of the demolished John Simpson Middle School on the northwest corner of West Fourth and Bowman streets.
The Mansfield City Schools Board of Education has terminated the services of Deer Creek Excavating for the demolition of John Simpson Middle School.
In separate resolutions adopted during a special meeting Monday morning the board cut its ties with the Bellville-area company and authorized Superintendent Brian Garverick to immediately find another contractor to finish work at the Simpson site.
In a letter to Rick Weimhoff of Deer Creek, doing business now as Integrity Poured Walls II, Garverick said, “From the outset this project has been plagued with excessive delays and excuses.”
In September 2011 Deer Creek was the successful bidder for the project, which involved removal of asbestos, demolition of the building and clearing of the site at the northwest corner of West Fourth and Bowman streets. Huge piles of crushed brick and other debris and a smokestack remain on the site.
Garverick’s letter noted that the district and Deer Creek signed a revised Letter of Agreement last December which acknowledged that it was imperative that the work be completed by May 31.
“No further extensions have been granted and you have failed to meet your obligations,” Garverick wrote. “Up to this point, we have made several good faith efforts to work with you to get this job done and have extended this project beyond what is reasonable. The lack of progress and completion is unacceptable and the job site in its present condition poses a potential safety and liability threat. If that is not enough, we have been advised that you are presently in violation of several City of Mansfield ordinances which will most likely result in a work stoppage.”
The board’s first resolution directs Deer Creek and its employees, contractors and subcontractors “to immediately cease and desist from further work at the site and to remove any and all equipment not belonging to the Board of Education from the site.”
A second resolution, declaring “that a case of urgent necessity exists for the security and protection of school property,” authorizes Garverick, in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, to dispense with competitive bidding and “take whatever action is needed to complete this project.”
Nearly $90,000 already encumbered for work by Deer Creek will instead be used to pay another contractor to complete work at the site. However, the board’s resolution severing ties with Deer Creek also said, “…it is the Board of Education’s intention to hold Deer Creek responsible for any and all additional costs associated with the completion of the demolition of John Simpson Middle School.”