County opens six bids for Shenango Park CDBG project and moves to table for review; budget amendment approved

Lawrence County commissioners opened six bids Tuesday for park improvements under a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Shenango Township and tabled award decisions to allow township and county staff to review the submissions. The board later approved a budget amendment moving $109,994 in unbudgeted CDBG revenue into the Shenango Park CDBG fund.

County Controller Dave (county controller) read the six bids at the Oct. 7 meeting: Prominent Enterprises $180,428.31; Bridal Excavating $98,045; Gem Building Contractors $106,463.20; Juco Incorporated $373,067.53; Mahoning Builders $139,440; and Priority Landscapes $168,385. Commissioners then voted to table any award so the county planning office, the comptroller’s office and Shenango Township can review the proposals in detail.

The tabled action gives township officials and county staff time to examine qualifications, scope alignment with the CDBG contract and cost details before the board selects a contractor. Rebecca (county staff), who confirmed all six firms were prequalified to submit bids, told the board she had worked with three of the six companies previously.

Commissioners later approved resolution 320, a budget amendment transferring $109,994 of unbudgeted CDBG revenue into the Shenango Park Community Development Block Grant fund to cover the project’s budgeted costs.

The bid opening and the budget amendment are the initial procedural steps required before the county can award and execute a construction contract under the CDBG program. County staff said they will notify Shenango Township when the review is complete and bring a recommendation back to the commissioners for a formal contract award.

The board did not act on contract awards at Tuesday’s meeting; no contractor was selected and no contract was signed.