Geneva receives two bids for West Main project
Oct. 25—GENEVA — City administrators and council members are crossing their fingers and hoping there are no last-minute issues after receiving two bids for the West Main Street Infrastructure project.
The process has frustrated council members for the last year and a half and others for much longer.
Four bid processes have gone awry in the last year with no bids, incomplete follow-up and one that came in too high over the estimated project cost submitted by the city engineer.
A $3 million grant from the state put the project back on the table.
S.E.T. Inc. put in a bid of $8,993,754.56 and Fabrizi Trucking & Paving Co. Inc. also entered the competition with $8,838,772.97, said Geneva City Manager Joseph Varckette in a written report to council.
Varckette provided the report before leaving for a meeting regarding the future of Western County Court being in held Jefferson.
"Both bids are within the 20-percent threshold of the engineer's estimate of probable cost [$7,500,000]," Varckette said. He said the city is proceeding with due diligence to determine the viability of the bids.
Varckette said he would like to have a special council meeting Oct. 30 when he will hopefully be able to give a recommendation on the bid that night.
"If a bid is presented and accepted, I would also present to council a recommendation to accept a revised proposal from the Mannik Smith Group for construction inspection administration services at the cost of $644,000."
The city previously selected MSG through a competitive process back in Spring, 2022.
Village council approved legislation allowing Ohio Department of Transportation consent to do work on state roads in the city.
In other business:
—Varckette said the city gave a seven-day extension on bids for preliminary work on a stormwater master plan.
—Varckette also said there is an event-planning candidate being interviewed to work to increase the use of the Geneva Community Center.
—Varckette said the city was able to find 20 proposals from city business leaders seeking grants worth up to $30,000 to improve buildings through the Appalachian Community Grant.
—Community Improvement Corporation of Geneva President Bob Russell gave council a picture of the group's work to improve the community and explained the process that included the purchase of a new sign near the intersection of Route 84 and Route 534.
He said the group paid $25,000 for the new electric sign and has raised $14,000 to help pay for it. Council has discussed the possibility of using NOPEC funds to help the group finish the fundraising process.
Council President Philip Cordova said he would be in favor of using the money because of the importance of the project at the gateway to the city.
—Geneva Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6846 Commander Ron Stettler asked council if the post could replace a tree used for the tree decorating competition with a Blue Spruce, offered up to $5,000 for the purchase and training of a K9 officer and sought permission to improve the Purple Heart Memorial along Route 534.
Council members asked Stettler to contact Varckette to work out possibilities relating to the proposed projects.
—Councilman Jeff Griffiths said the sustainability committee and tree committee are sponsoring a community cleanup day on Nov. 4. He said volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the Geneva Public Library and disperse throughout the city to work in numerous places.
