Jan 26, 2011 By Rebekah Sungala 3 min read

MASONTOWN – Borough council is moving forward with plans for the proposed municipal complex.

At Tuesday’s meeting, council voted unanimously to put the project out for bid a second time.

Council members Kim Essig, Edward Gulino, Frank McLaughlin, Kay Rendina, Mike Washko and Harry Lee voted to advertise the project. Councilman Joseph Stillwagon was absent from the meeting.

The project was redesigned and scaled back after original bids received in July came in higher than expected.

Dwain Lee of Dwain Lee Architects of Blacklick, Ohio, is designing the building and has been working with council on the project for several months.

The municipal complex is to be located in the former Gabler Drug building at 2 N. Main St. Council intends to revamp the building and turn it into a complex that will house borough offices and the police department.

Construction and renovations to the building were originally estimated to cost about $550,000, but general contracting costs alone that were submitted by three companies when bids for the municipal complex were previously opened nearly equaled or exceeded that amount.

Bids were also received in July for heating, ventilation and cooling, plumbing and electrical work at the proposed facility. Bids in each of those categories averaged around $125,000.

Lee, who is council president, said the borough is anxious to receive bids and award a contract so that the project can begin.

In other business, council discussed ongoing problems with a main waterline.

McLaughlin, who oversees both the water and sewage operations for the borough, said a 10-inch water main located under the Masontown Bridge split.

The borough was forced to repair the line last summer when it split, and McLaughlin said a permanent repair is needed.

McLaughlin said the water main is located beneath a gas line, which makes working on it difficult.

Council discussed the issue with borough engineer Art Brower of Fayette Engineering. Brower made several suggestions and said he would have a contractor contact McLaughlin today to discuss a solution to solve the problem.

“We’ve got to get it fixed soon,” McLaughlin said, noting that it is an emergency situation.

In other matters, Mayor Toni Petrus thanked the borough’s street department for keeping the roads free of snow and ice during the recent winter storm.

Petrus said she received several compliments and thanks from residents who appreciate the borough’s efforts.

In addition, council appointed Kathy Packroni to serve on the German-Masontown Library Board and appointed David L. Essig to serve on the borough’s Civil Service Commission.

Council also announced that water will be shut off Feb. 3 to any residences that have outstanding and delinquent water bills of two months or more.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 8 in the borough building.