Board rejects bidding results
CONNELLSVILLE – Higher-than-expected bids have delayed the installation of a heating system for the Connellsville Community Center. The city redevelopment authority’s board of directors moved this week to reject bids for the work when the four submitted proposals exceeded the budgeted amount by more than $10,000.
“We’re going to have to wait until spring at this point,” said Ralph Wombacker, authority executive director.
Last year, the center requested the city set aside a portion of its 2005 state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the purchase of two boilers for its third story after a city-funded elevator allowed for access to the upper floor.
According to Wombacker, the third floor can be heated with the current system, but not at efficient levels.
The four bids submitted for the project included Gally Construction Service Inc. of Pittsburgh, $73,360; Marc Service Inc. of Windber, $67,000; MDA Mechanical Contractors of Pittsburgh, $54,400 and Whitby Inc. of Uniontown, $89,800.
Turning to other financial matters, the authority issued final payments for two fire trucks purchased by the city fire department and the volunteer New Haven Hose Co. over the past four years.
An $84,833 check will be issued to Kaza Fire Equipment Co. for the city department pumper truck and $84,254 to New Lexington Fire Equipment Co. for the New Haven Quint apparatus, following board action.
The city has allocated $224,846 in CDBG funding over a three-year period for the city truck and $372,474 over a six-year period for the New Haven equipment.
The volunteer fire company has been responsible for related interest payments for the equipment.
The authority also agreed to make a $54,030 payment to John Varrati Cement Contractor Inc. for work completed on the Sixth Street and Ninth Street sidewalk project.
Wombacker said that the Sixth Street project is near completion with the Ninth Street reconstruction nearing the halfway mark.
“They hope to get started on the east side of the roadway Monday,” said Wombacker.
The project includes the area from the intersection with Crawford Avenue to Green Street and is being funded through the CDBG program.
In other action, the authority canceled its Nov. 9 meeting.