TRUMBULL COUNTY Contracts for filter upgrades cost MVSD less than expected

The contracts totaled $6.46 million for the improvements to the filter system.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- Contracts awarded to three companies for improvements to the filter will save the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District more than $400,000.
Directors unanimously agreed Wednesday to award contracts to A.P. O'Horo Co. Inc. of Youngstown for general construction and the filtration system; Conti Corp. of Lowellville for mechanical and electrical work; and Total Environmental Services LLC of Toledo for asbestos removal.
The total for the contracts awarded is $6.46 million, which falls about $400,000 below the original rough estimates for the project.
Directors also agreed to allow CT Consultants Inc. to act as project managers for the construction, which covers everything from repairing the building that houses the filters, to upgrading the heating and air-conditioning systems to replacing the filters and their electrical controls.
CT Consultants representatives performed design work for the project and worked with MVSD officials throughout the bidding process.
The upgrades were originally to take place in the 1990s, but a special audit conducted by the state put all capital improvement projects on hold at that time.
Insurance switch
Also at the meeting, directors agreed to switch the insurance carrier for sanitary district employees from Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Medical Mutual of Ohio.
George Joseph, a representative from Insurance Specialties, encouraged the switch, nothing it will save MVSD about $66,000 each year. Insurance Specialties is contracted by MVSD to shop for competitive health insurance plans each year.
Joseph noted the two companies offer similar plans, but that the switch to Medical Mutual gives employees a $100 deductible as opposed to an annual out-of-pocket maximum of $1,000 for individuals or $2,000 for families.
He added that the co-pays for employees also will stay about the same under the new plan.
Termination
Finally, directors unanimously approved a resolution that terminated the employment, effective immediately, of John D. Thomas and David J. Russell.
Chief Engineer Thomas Holloway said the men were field maintenance workers at MVSD, but declined to comment on the termination.
The resolution simply stated the employment was terminated with cause.
Board President Matt Blair was the only director to comment on the resolution during the meeting, saying it was "a hard resolution to pass."
Officials did not have information at the meeting on how long either man had been with the district or how much they were earning.
slshaulis@vindy.com