DOWNTOWN 4 more contracts OK'd for arena

The city will open bids for more arena project contracts next week.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's board of control approved four contracts today for work at the downtown arena.
Of the four approved contracts, three are with A.P. O'Horo Co. of Liberty, totaling $1.62 million. The company was to sign a contract with the city today, and begin work as soon as possible, said Carmen Conglose Jr., the city's deputy director of public works.
The contracts with A.P. O'Horo are:
U$1,325,000 for the foundation of the 5,500-seat, $41 million project. The bid was $400,000 less than the project engineer's estimate.
U$265,000 to install stilts. The engineer's estimate was $290,000 for the work.
U$30,000 for a small amount of steel needed for the project, the exact amount of the engineer's estimate. This is not the major structural steel to be used to build the arena.
The board also approved today a $111,663 contract for underground electric work with Bruce and Marilees Electric Co. of New Castle, Pa.
Santon Electric Co. of Youngstown submitted a lower proposal, $111,500, but the city went with Bruce and Marilees because Santon's bid didn't comply with the bid requirements, Conglose said.
Bid rejected
The board also rejected bids to install underground plumbing and mechanical work. Komar Plumbing Inc. of Youngstown submitted a $248,000 bid, but the company's bid wasn't complete, and it failed to include some items required for the job to be done, Conglose said.
The city decided to rebid the job because the engineer's estimate on the job is $260,000, and the next lowest bid for the work was $434,500.
The city is accepting proposals for the underground plumbing and mechanical work, as well as the installation of elevators, and will open them Aug. 13, Conglose said.
The city didn't get any companies to bid on the elevator installation work last month.
The engineer's estimate on the elevators is $170,000.
skolnick@vindy.com