Struthers schools set 2nd round of bidding for football stadium

Changes include switching from electric to gas heat and
eliminating a row of bleachers.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

STRUTHERS — School officials believe several design changes and a higher estimated cost will bring bids in a second round of bidding on the Struthers Wildcat Stadium project within legal requirements.

Last month, the board of education rejected all bids on Phases 2 and 3 of the project. The board was required by state law to reject the bids because they were more than 10 percent over the engineer’s estimate, said Schools Treasurer Michael Evanson.

The low bid for the project, $1,051,852, was 23.75 percent, or $201,852, more than the engineer’s estimate of $850,000, Evanson said.

During a special meeting last week, the board increased the estimated cost from $850,000 to $900,000, and approved about a dozen design changes that should reduce the cost of the project by $150,000. The deadline for bids is 2 p.m. March 18.

The project completion date was changed from July 9 to Aug. 11, still in time for the start of the new football season, Evanson said.

Design changes included switching from electric to gas heat, changing from wall-mounted to floor-mounted toilets, and downsizing the bleachers from 16 to 15 rows, Evanson said.

Phases 2 and 3 include new bleachers on the west side of the stadium. The concrete east stands, which were built in 1936, were demolished and rebuilt in 2007.

When the new west stands are complete, the stadium will have about 3,000 regular seats plus 14 to 18 spaces for wheelchairs. The project is being financed primarily with revenue generated by open-enrollment pupils.

alcorn@vindy.com