LETTER: His constituents say $33.5M too much for safety building

To Ozaukee Press:

Here are a few comments about the timely and appropriate editorial in the Oct. 24 issue of Ozaukee Press—“Port taxpayers: Can you afford a $33.5M public safety building?”

Did the Council authorize the spending? No. The vote was not to spend $33.5 million; it was to set a target for the architect to shoot for.

The $33.5 million was not a “not to exceed” number. The price could come in at $40 million and the contract still could be awarded.

The project has not been approved. It must be awarded to be approved.

The mayor talked us into the MC Group to act as owner’s representative for the project at a cost of $250,000. I unfortunately went along with it.

Let’s theorize that the group of staff and others that discussed the needs for a public safety building were all well-meaning, which I believe most were. But the group was not appointed. I believe it was selected by the former city administrator. There was no chairman, no agendas, no minutes, no reports to the Council for months. It should have been an ad hoc committee.

The building will not make me proud. Maybe it would if it were built for $20 million.

I only know how the 25 people who I interviewed feel—that $33.5 million is too much money.

John Sigwart

Alderman, 7th District

Port Washingto