HUBBARD Council OKs waterline contract

Hubbard lawmakers gave the OK for this year's resurfacing program.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- City council has authorized the administration to enter into a contract for construction of the long-delayed Myron Street waterline.
Lawmakers agreed Monday that the board of control can award the work to JCM Contracting of New Springfield, which bid $385,387.
The project calls for the installation of a 12-inch line along Myron, between North Main Street and Caroline Avenue.
Council went along with the recommendation of Environmental Design Group Inc. of Akron to award the contract to JCM, although it was not the lowest bid.
Environmental Design was hired by the city to design and monitor the project along with recommending a contractor. It recommended JCM over Rhino Excavating of Niles, the apparent low bidder at $347,650.
Qualifications questioned: In a letter from Environmental Design to Mayor George Praznik, it questioned the qualifications of Rhino, pointing out that it is a newly formed company founded by former employees of Hardrives Paving and Construction Inc. of Mineral Ridge.
Rhino had argued that Rhino's principal, Robert Tabachino, was former vice president and project manager at Hardrives and has "extensive experience and is more than qualified for this job."
The project has been delayed because Environmental Design did not seek references to determine if companies were qualified to do the work when the project was first bid.
JCM was selected on the second round of bidding for a project Praznik believed would be under way by now.
Other action: In other business, council authorized the controlling board to enter into a contract with Diorio Paving Co. of Hubbard for the city's 2001 resurfacing program.
Diorio has agreed to do the resurfacing for $61,805. The city had estimated the work would cost nearly $72,000.
During the meeting, Praznik reported to lawmakers that the city will have to spend about $4,000 to repair a sewer problem under the city administration building.
The mayor explained that the sewer is backing up into the building and a pump will have to be installed to push the sewage out of the lines.
There have been two backups recently, one forcing employees to be let out of work early because of the odor.
Also, Councilman William Williams called on the city administration to force property owners to repair their sidewalks.
A city ordinance requires property owners to repair sidewalks that in some cases are safety concerns, Williams said.
yovich@vindy.com