Commissioners vote to award pact to Rhino

The next lowest bid was $7,000 more.
By STEPHEN SIFF
and DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners awarded a $263,000 contract to a company that was responsible for "the worst constructed and managed project" in the past nine years, according to Thomas Holloway, the county sanitary engineer.
Commissioners James G. Tsagaris and Joseph J. Angelo Jr. voted to overrule objections by Holloway and the county prosecutor's office to give Rhino Excavating & amp; Milling Co. a contract to lay a water main on King Graves Road in Howland. The work will paid with an Ohio Public Works Commission loan.
"I picked Rhino because they were the lowest and best bid, as far as the commissioners were concerned," said Angelo. "They are saving taxpayer money."
Delayed awarding pact
Commissioners have delayed since September awarding the contract because of concerns about Rhino raised by Holloway and the assistant county prosecutor assigned to his office, James Brutz.
They declined to discuss the matter Wednesday, but in a September letter, Brutz advisedcommissioners to reject the company's bid because of its performance on a contract to build a septic pump station near Newton Manor Apartments in Newton Falls. The project was supposed to be completed in May.
"In Mr. Holloway's nine years of being the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer, this has been the worst constructed and managed project," Brutz wrote to commissioners.
Commissioner Michael O'Brien said he voted against giving Rhino the contract because of these concerns.
"The law provides us the with latitude in regard to previous relationships with companies, satisfactory or unsatisfactory," he said.
The company also has been criticized for its performance on two paving contracts with the city of Warren.
Company's fines
Dave Robison, city director of engineering, planning and building, said the company has been fined by the city for delays on the Dana Street resurfacing project. He said the fine will be $8,600 if the project is finished by Friday, as the company has promised. The original completion date was to be this summer. The company also is doing work on Parkman Road and that project also has encountered delays -- some of them beyond the company's control.
In several letters, Rhino threatened to sue the county if it was not awarded the contract.
The county's engineer on the project, the firm of Lynn, Kittinger and Noble, recommended awarding the contract to Rhino after company president Robert Tabachino agreed to double the penalty, to $500 a day, the company will pay if the project is delayed.
The second-lowest bidder, Miller-Yount Paving Co. of Cortland, offered to do the job for $7,000 more than Rhino.
"Rhino is cheaper, and Lynn, Kittinger & amp; Noble told us to go with him," Tsagaris said.