EDISON JUNIOR HIGH Demolition OK'd for Niles school

Crews could start the demolition in the next few weeks.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The district's former middle school will finally fall to the wrecking ball.
Board of education members approved by a 4-0 vote Thursday to award the demolition contract for Edison Junior High School to All Excavating Co. of Youngstown. The company offered the lowest of eight bids, with a total of $77,277. The highest bid received was for $214,000.
Board member John J. Tricomi abstained from the vote, saying he had some concerns about what qualified as the lowest and "best" bid.
State law allows boards awarding government contracts some discretion in qualifying the bids received.
"I was comfortable in abstaining because I don't feel I had all the facts and information I needed," Tricomi said after the meeting.
Robert Wurdock of URS/O'Brien Kreitzburg of Niles, the project manager for the job, explained to board members during the meetings that All Excavating and several other companies submitting bids met all the specifications and were capable of doing the job.
He also said All Excavating was the lowest and best bid when questioned by Superintendent Rocco D. Adduci. School officials opened bids last month for the demolition project, which could start within the next few weeks.
History
The board closed Edison at the end of the 2002-03 school year after the construction and opening of Niles Middle School. Edison was erected in 1917 and originally served as the district's high school.
Plans originally called for the Church Street building to be torn down last summer, but the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency advised the board to throw out all bids at that time because of concerns about the amount of asbestos.
Prisoners from Ohio Penal Industries have worked since last fall to remove asbestos from the former school.
slshaulis@vindy.com