County officials review bids for Damascus sewer project

YOUNGSTOWN -- A third round of bids for a sewer project in Damascus is being reviewed, and Mahoning County officials hope this is the last time.
The $1.5 million project is already more than a year behind schedule because of problems securing good bids.
The cost has been scaled down from the original $1.6 million, said Bill Coleman, office manager for the county sanitary engineer's office.
The county plans to build a new collection system and treatment plant to serve about 200 homes in Damascus and Goshen Township, where residents have complained about septic systems leaking fecal material into drinking water.
The first two rounds of bids were rejected because they were too high. Under Ohio law, the county can accept a high bid only if it's less than 10 percent higher than the architect's estimated project cost.
Coleman said the new bids appear to be acceptable, though it won't be official until after the review by Michael Benza & amp; Associates of Cleveland, the project consultant.
If the bids are approved, county commissioners will be asked to award contracts as soon as possible so construction can begin, Coleman said.
"We're trying to pull it all together and come up with a plan to make this project happen," he said.