Warren to take building bids

WARREN — The board of education has decided to start the construction bidding for the new Willard K-8 building.

The board, in a special meeting Thursday, approved a resolution to begin bidding. Members declared “that an urgent necessity exists.”

That’s because the school board terminated the agreement with Hively Construction Co. Inc. in May.

Hively and the city schools are embroiled in a lawsuit over the terminated pact.

In its lawsuit filed in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, Hively Construction Co. Inc. seeks to have voided any contracts the district has entered into to complete work on the new Willard school.

The company alleges the district contracted for work without going through the bidding process.

The board said Thursday that bidding needs to be done for the school to be finished by the new revised schedule in March 2009. The previous finish date was in December 2008.

“Hopefully we will have other buildings opening at the same time,” Superintendent Kathryn Hellweg said.

The projected cost for the general contract on the new school is $10.5 million.

Bidding for the general trades work for the building will be in about 21⁄2 weeks, and there will be a prebid conference during that time. After bids are received and reviewed, the project’s construction manager will bring them to the school board for approval.

Construction on the building to resume in August with the new contractor.