MERCER COUNTY Officials award pacts for new jail

A commissioner says new-jail construction will start soon.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- A poor economy is helping Mercer County save millions on a new jail.
County commissioners awarded nearly $18 million in contracts Thursday for construction of the facility.
Commission Chairman Gene Brenneman said bids were expected to total $19 million to $23 million and that the actual numbers & quot;surprised us. & quot;
The commissioners agreed that the bad economy is a factor both in the low cost and in the large number of bids received, which was 42. Among those were 15 bids for the general construction contract.
Pacts awarded
Contracts were awarded to the following, all of whom were the low bidders in their respective categories:
UGeneral construction: C & amp;M Contracting Inc., Pittsburgh -- $9.53 million. The figure includes two options commissioners have decided to include: $230,000 for a special roof and $20,000 for a gravel road around the building to provide access for fire and safety vehicles.
UHeating, ventilation and air conditioning, Guy's Mechanical Systems Inc., Rochester, Pa. -- $2.298,302.
UPlumbing/fire protection, Ender Plumbing & amp; Heating, Kittanning, Pa. -- $1.761,300.
UElectrical, Blackhawk/Neff, Inc., New Castle, Pa. -- $1.68 million.
UDetention equipment -- Willo Products Co. Inc., Decatur, Ala. -- $2,645,000.
The jail, which will be built on 14.5 acres on Pa. Route 258 in Findley Township, will replace the one across the street from the courthouse. Built in 1976 and expanded in 1991, it holds 114 prisoners while the county averages a prisoner population of 186. The overflow is housed at other county jails and this year the cost of this out-of-county housing is expected to be $1.4 million. The new jail will hold 265.
Construction will start soon, according to Brenneman. The building is expected to take 12 to 14 months to complete.
Spay/neuter clinic
Also Thursday, commissioners agreed to offer a local animal welfare group, Pet Solutions, free use of a trailer at the county-owned Munnell Run Farm as a location for a cat neutering and spaying clinic. The group had asked commissioners for help in dealing with a stray-cat problem.
Commissioner Kenneth Seamans said the group has a veterinarian who has offered to spay or neuter the cats for free, but had no place to do it. The trailer has a furnace and is equipped with electricity and gas.
Commissioner Olivia Lazor said the offer should include an agreement freeing the county from any liability. The offer was made yesterday and Seamans said the group needs time to make a decision. The trailer has been vacant eight years.
Munnell Run Farm, on state Route 58 in Coolspring Township, is run by the Mercer County Conservation District.