Mar 10, 2011 By Steve Ferris 2 min read

The Uniontown Redevelopment Authority board of directors awarded a contract for the Morgantown Street sewer separation project and retained the current slate of officers at the authority’s annual meeting Tuesday.

Board members unanimously voted to award the contract to Lee’s Plumbing and Excavating of New Salem, which submitted the low bid of $294,126.

Bidding for the project was competitive. The second lowest bid was $295,809. The remaining bids ranged from $400,334 to $675,972.

Authority executive director Mark Yauger said Chester Engineers of Moon Township, the project engineer, reviewed the bids and recommended awarding the contract to Lee’s Plumbing.

The work, which involves installation of about 1,500 feet of storm water line, would start within 30 days after the state Department of Transportation issues a permit to excavate the state-owned street, Yauger said.

The project is mandated in a consent order between the city and state Department of Environmental Protection requires the city to separate its storm and sewage sewer systems.

Lee’s will work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to minimize disruption to downtown businesses and traffic during the day, he said, adding that traffic will be restricted to one lane through the work zone.

Turning to board business, the board voted to keep John Oris as board chairman, Brian Ludy as vice chairman, Susan Maher as secretary, John Ptak as treasurer and James Sileo as assistant secretary/treasurer.

Oris read the inscription on a plaque recognizing former board member Muriel Lantz of Uniontown for the 25 years she served on the board.

She was not able to continue because of health reasons and she did not attend the meeting.

“It was an honor for me to be there with her,” said Oris, who served with Lantz for many of those 25 years.