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LISBON -- Low bids opened Wednesday by Columbiana County commissioners for a waterline project in Leetonia and a Salineville street improvement project landed below engineer cost estimates.
"I think we're pretty happy with the numbers we see," county Port Authority Recovery Coordinator Bobby Ritchey said.
Ritchey and county Director of Economic Development Tad Herold attended the bid openings for the projects being partially funded through the county's Community Development Block Grant allocation.
The Leetonia project will connect the village's high pressure water main to the southeast quadrant of the village at Cherry Fork Avenue from Wilson Street to Home Street.
The engineer's estimate was $304,423, with Express Underground Inc. of Petersburg submitting the apparent low bid of $273,519.
Other bids included: Mike Pusateri Excavating, East Liverpool, $365,822; J.S. Bova Excavating, Struthers, $287,931; Utility Contracting Inc., Youngstown, $332,842; Sweet Meadow Farm Drainage, Beloit, $296,158; and SET Inc., Lowellville, $311,157. Bids will be reviewed by Howells & Baird of Salem, with a recommendation expected in the next couple weeks.
The Salineville project involves resurfacing Washington Street from Main Street to the Brookview Apartments. The engineer's estimate was $95,095, with R.T. Vernal of North Lima submitting the apparent low bid of $79,927.
Other bids included: Lindy Paving, New Galilee, Pa., $97,416; and Barbicas Construction, Akron, $97,706. Bids will be reviewed by Dallis Dawson and Associates of East Liverpool, with a recommendation to follow.
"I'm hopeful with these bids. We'll see what the engineers have to say," Ritchey said. "Our goal is to break ground this spring."
Ritchey explained that the funding is from the county's 2022 CDBG allocation, with $490,000 for this year's projects. Last year, part of the 2022 allocation, $172,000, was used for projects in Salem and Columbiana.
The money is received every two years. A community development implementation strategy meeting will be held in March to discuss with communities the projects they want to submit for the 2024 CDBG allocation.
County commissioners will award the contracts for the Leetonia and Salineville projects based on the recommendations from the project engineering firms.