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Message
re: Man builds city park stairs for $550 - City says it will cost $65,000
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:51 pm to LNCHBOX
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:51 pm to LNCHBOX
quote:
You're exactly right. These threads always bring out the clueless types when it comes to actually building things. ETA: Downvotes from idiots. Love this place.
In your opinion, should it cost closer to $550 or $65,000?
1
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:52 pm to stout
quote:
lol no. $1K wouldn't even cover the insurance and bond a contractor will need before he even bids on a Government project.
idk why the downvotes
this is absolutely correct
WC payroll alone for 1 employee would be a few hundred. That's before you have to insure the small job itself. I'd like to think the bond would be really cheap, though.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:53 pm to MrLarson
quote:
I would not step foot on that death trap. Handrails only on one side and risers are only in the middle
To be fair, there was only a dirt path down the hill before he started.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:54 pm to slackster
quote:
In your opinion, should it cost closer to $550 or $65,000?
If you're asking if it should be $32,225 or less, the answer is porobably. But it would depend on the actual scope of work. More would go into it than just the actual stairs.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:55 pm to stout
quote:
Quit with your reasoning. We should just be able to build shite in public spaces for public use without any research if it saves money now!
Just imagine how perfect the world would be if everything was built by someone that doesn't know what they're doing.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:56 pm to jbgleason
I don't see a ramp or elevator for OweO. No wonder it only cost $550.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:58 pm to LNCHBOX
quote:
If you're asking if it should be $32,225 or less, the answer is porobably.
I mean, it's way less. It's probably something more like 5-10k.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 2:59 pm to LNCHBOX
quote:
If you're asking if it should be $32,225 or less, the answer is porobably
Yeah, that was the question.
quote:
But it would depend on the actual scope of work. More would go into it than just the actual stairs.
I understand this is the case. I'm sure the stairs/ramp would have been nicer than what was constructed, but there was a dirt path before those stairs were erected.
Suggesting there is a ton of bloated costs in government work isn't really asinine.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:01 pm to slackster
quote:
Suggesting there is a ton of bloated costs in government work isn't really asinine.
The costs aren't bloated just for fun. Building a structure for public use opens you up to liabilities that you have to protect yourself from by jumping through a bunch of hoops. Those hoops cost money.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:04 pm to cas4t
quote:
It's probably something more like 5-10k.
I agree with this for just the contractor portion. I am sure a lot of those other costs are for other people involved including research, engineering, etc. $65K is very bloated though.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:04 pm to LNCHBOX
quote:Yeah, we know... and that's the fricking problem with government.
The costs aren't bloated just for fun. Building a structure for public use opens you up to liabilities that you have to protect yourself from by jumping through a bunch of hoops. Those hoops cost money.
Costs $65k to $150k to build a little set of stairs because of all of the bullshite rules, regulations, legal compliance, red tape, etc.
This post was edited on 7/20/17 at 3:06 pm
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:05 pm to slackster
quote:
I'm sure the stairs/ramp would have been nicer than what was constructed, but there was a dirt path before those stairs were erected.
Those steps might be marginally safer than the the dirt path. The difference in an old person falling 3' and 4' could be a broken hip which would likely cost the government a lot more than 65k.
This post was edited on 7/20/17 at 3:09 pm
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:06 pm to PrimeTime Money
quote:
and that's the fricking problem with government.
To be fair, all of that isn't on the Government. The blame can be spread among lawyers, environmentalist, the stupidity of the general public that need the Government to protect them, etc
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:07 pm to stout
quote:
I agree with this for just the contractor portion. I am sure a lot of those other costs are for other people involved including research, engineering, etc. $65K is very bloated though.
On the PB I offered to design some stairs that are up to code for Zach if he built them on public property. I'm kinda interested to see what would happen if the government couldn't use safety as an argument for tearing them down.
This post was edited on 7/20/17 at 3:08 pm
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:11 pm to PrimeTime Money
quote:
Yeah, we know... and that's the fricking problem with government.
Government wouldn't need that if frivolous lawsuits didn't exist.
quote:
Costs $65k to $150k to build a little set of stairs because of all of the bullshite rules, regulations, legal compliance, red tape, etc.
Again, that stuff didn't just appear out of thin air.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:13 pm to jbgleason
Reminds me of a joke.
The city of Chicago needed to build some stairs at a city park, so they sought out three bids.
A contractor from Louisiana came in, measured, calculated the materials, and the estimated time, and said we can build the stairs for $1000.
A contractor from Georgia came in, measured, calculated the materials and the estimated time, and said they could build the stairs for $1500.
A contractor from Chicago doesn't measure or calculate, and quotes the city $65,000.
The department head is irate. $65,000? What the hell? You didn't even measure anything. How can it be so expensive. The contractor says, $32,000 for you, $32,000 for me, and we'll pay the guy from Louisiana to do it!
That's how government spends money.
The city of Chicago needed to build some stairs at a city park, so they sought out three bids.
A contractor from Louisiana came in, measured, calculated the materials, and the estimated time, and said we can build the stairs for $1000.
A contractor from Georgia came in, measured, calculated the materials and the estimated time, and said they could build the stairs for $1500.
A contractor from Chicago doesn't measure or calculate, and quotes the city $65,000.
The department head is irate. $65,000? What the hell? You didn't even measure anything. How can it be so expensive. The contractor says, $32,000 for you, $32,000 for me, and we'll pay the guy from Louisiana to do it!
That's how government spends money.
This post was edited on 7/20/17 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:14 pm to stout
$10k of the $65k will go to the firm that determined it will cost $55k.
The hoops are ridiculous for government work, but they're not going anywhere because they line the pockets of many.
The hoops are ridiculous for government work, but they're not going anywhere because they line the pockets of many.
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:15 pm to anc
quote:
A contractor from Louisiana came in, measured, calculated the materials, and the estimated time, and said we can build the stairs for $1000.
quote:
The department head is irate. $65,000? What the hell? You didn't even measure anything. How can it be so expensive. The contractor says, $30,000 for you, $29,000 for me, and we'll pay the guy from Louisiana to do it!
That Chicago guy is bad at math
ETA:
quote:
The department head is irate. $65,000? What the hell? You didn't even measure anything. How can it be so expensive. The contractor says, $32,500 for you, $32,500 for me, and we'll pay the guy from Louisiana to do it!
He's still bad at math
This post was edited on 7/20/17 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:16 pm to slackster
quote:
$10k of the $65k will go to the firm that determined it will cost $55k.
The hoops are ridiculous for government work, but they're not going anywhere because they line the pockets of many.
Are you suggesting that the $10k for design work in your example should not be a cost?
Posted on 7/20/17 at 3:16 pm to anc
quote:
A contractor from Chicago doesn't measure or calculate, and quotes the city $65,000.
I used to work for a division of a big contractor headquartered in Chicago and this might be less of a joke than you think...
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