Redevelopment commission opens bids for asbestos work at two downtown parcels; staff to review bids and report back

During its Oct. 14 meeting the Elkhart City Redevelopment Commission opened bids for asbestos investigation/abatement services at 812 South Main and 420 South Second Street.

Staff read the bids into the record: Star Environmental submitted a $125,000 bid for 420 South Second Street and a $25,000 bid for 812 South Main. Contractor Jerry Reed submitted bids including $36,200 and $55,000 (the transcript records multiple entries attributed to Jerry Reed). Staff said Jerry Reed is a demolition contractor the city has used previously and that staff would compare whether the bids address the same scope of work.

Commissioners did not award those contracts at the Oct. 14 meeting. Staff later told the commission they would review the bids more fully, compare them with pricing from the city’s on-call contractor (Clean Air Environmental) and report back at a later time or at the end of a subsequent meeting.

No formal award was made during the Oct. 14 meeting; staff asked for additional time to confirm scope comparability and pricing.