An article in today’s Park Ridge Journal (“PW Still Waiting On Air System,” June 25) provides yet another example of why Park Ridge City government, under the administration of Mayor Howard “Let’s Make A Deal” Frimark, costs so much and accomplishes so little. 

The City’s “new” Public Works building was built in 2000.  As best as we can tell from available information, that building was approved by its architect (Park Ridge’s Chipman Adams Associates, headed by former 4th Ward alderman John Chipman) and its engineer (Brian Berg) before being turned over to, and accepted by, the City.  One would assume that meant that all systems were “Go.”

But by 2004, the air quality was bad enough that the City added a “dilution system” (cost not readily available) to suck in extra outside air to dilute the diesel fumes inside, and then blow out the diluted polluted air.  Apparently, that hasn’t worked, either, because the building reportedly still has “negative air pressure”: outside air, including the blown-out diluted exhaust fumes, are being sucked back in.  To our untrained ears, that sure sounds like the air handling system isn’t properly balanced or otherwise not working properly.

Which may explain why, in May, Public Works Director Wayne Zingsheim and his staff, after consulting Chipman and Berg, recommended that the City spend approximately $25,000 to have the building’s existing air handling system balanced by Independent Testing and Balancing, Inc. 

But within weeks, Zingsheim and building Supt. Brian Wiebe were singing a new tune, recommending to the Public Works committee that a “source capture system” be installed at an estimated cost of $68,415 from Hastings Air Energy Control.  That new and more expensive recommendation, on a no-bid basis no less, was enthusiastically endorsed by 5th Ward Ald. Robert Ryan, who apparently was able to find a few spare minutes in his busy schedule to actually show up for one of his committee meetings. 

By the time Hastings was asked for a firm proposal, however, the price had gone up to $82,535.  And nobody at City Hall or at Hastings is giving any guaranties that the air quality will be acceptable to the employees even after that “source capture system” is installed – in large part because there has been no agreement as to the air quality standard that needs to be achieved. 

That didn’t stop Alderpuppets Don Bach (3rd Ward), Jim Allegretti (4th Ward), Robert Ryan (5th Ward) and Tom Carey (6th Ward) from voting for a no-bid contract for Hastings to do the work.  Fortunately for the taxpayers, 1st Ward Ald. Dave Schmidt once again stepped forward as the voice of reason, insisting that nothing be done until there is an agreement by the City and the affected employees as to an acceptable air quality standard, so that the City doesn’t keep shooting at – and perhaps missing – a moving air-quality target. 

And, fortunately, Schmidt was able to persuade Ald. Frank Wsol (7th Ward) and usual-Alderpuppet Rich DiPietro (2nd Ward) to join him in opposing the no-bid contract to Hastings, which prevented the measure from receiving the 5 votes needed to depart from the City’s competitive bidding process.  Thanks, guys.

Schmidt’s right.  And his approach is so clearly the correct one that we have to wonder just what the Alderpuppets are thinking – if anything – with their knee-jerk, don’t-just-stand-there-do-something desire to spend no small amount of taxpayer money on what may not even solve the problem.  Are they asleep at the wheel, not that bright, or just doing what they’ve been told? 

And we also can’t help but wonder whether Zingsheim and Wiebe aren’t already in over their heads when they, too, are jumping at every proposal du jour – and then recommending no-bid contracts on top of it.  That’s the kind of fiscally irresponsible behavior that has given the term “government bureaucrat” a bad connotation. 

But if a no-bid contract for Hastings really is your considered professional opinion, fellas, feel free to step up to the plate and guaranty its success with $82,535 of your own money.  And while you’re at it, see if Allegretti, Bach, Carey and Ryan are willing to chip in, too.