There’s a story on Whitewater’s Technology Park and Innovation Center, from the Wisconsin State Journal. See, Work was stopped on Whitewater technology park due to federal rules violations.
Reporter Dee Hall writes that
Work on the Whitewater University Technology Park was temporarily halted last week when the federal government notified officials with the city and UW-Whitewater that they violated federal rules when awarding a construction contract at the park….
The problem revolved around a $2.9 million contract awarded in April to Janesville-based J.P. Cullen & Sons. Cullen was in charge of reviewing the bids and recommended itself for the main construction contract.
As construction manager for the project, Cullen also is charged with overseeing construction and making sure subcontractors meet deadlines and budget. As part of the agreement with the federal government, Brunner said, Cullen’s work is now being overseen by the project architect, Eppstein Uhen Architects of Milwaukee.
In commenting on the temporary stoppage, Brunner remarked that
…. he had no idea until a few weeks ago that the arrangement didn’t comply with federal rules. He said Whitewater officials were able to demonstrate to EDA that it had held “an open and competitive bidding process” that met state and local laws.
Added Brunner: “We really truly believed we were doing the right thing.”
For my original post on the federal violations, see Whitewater’s Innovation Center: Economic Development Administration Sends ‘Cease and Desist’ Letter Over Alleged Violation of Competition in Construction Requirements.
I have written critically about the project before, but a stoppage for a federal rules violation — and a change in required oversight as a result — speaks poorly of this project. (I’ve contended that the project is both over-hyped and a misdirection of resources from Whitewater’s more significant needs.)
There are very few places that commit this sort of federal violation and experience this sort of work stoppage. Grandiose claims and serial groundbreaking ceremonies for the project should be the least of Whitewater’s concerns.
Note: Originally posted 10-7 at 10:30 p.m.