Grandstand bids come in — again

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SIDNEY — Shelby County Commissioners opened seven envelopes, Tuesday, in a second round of bidding for a contract to construct a new grandstand on the Shelby County Fairgrounds.

They took five bids under advisement, rejected one as invalid because it did not include a bid bond, and disregarded one that had been marked “no bid” by the bidder.

The former grandstand was demolished in early 2016 after insurers refused coverage of the deteriorating structure. The first round of bidding, which was complete in December, became moot when all four bids that had been submitted at that time were rejected. Commissioner Julie Ehemann said then that the bids were higher than the fairboard had anticipated and that there wasn’t enough funding for the project as it was bid.

The Shelby County Engineer’s Office had estimated the cost of the grandstand as specified in that first bidding to be $530,000. Changes were made to the specifications to lower costs and the more recent estimate was $460,000. Ohio law states that only bids within 10 percent of the estimate can be accepted.

The grandstand would seat 1,480 people under roof. The modifications included decreasing the space between rows of seats, allowing for open space in the decking under the seats, removing skirting from the front of the bleachers and lowering the support frame members, which eliminated the possibility of using the space under the grandstand for storage or parking. In addition, whereas the first specifications called for only welded decking, the revised plans allowed for firms to bid interlocking decks if they chose.

Firms were permitted to submit bids for the skirting, decking without open spaces, raised support frames items and/or additional slip-resistance on the decking as add-ons to their base bids. Add-on bids permit the fair board and the commissioners to consider each extra feature individually.

Shelby County Engineer Bob Geuy said that the base specifications meet state regulations for slip resistance but additional resistance is an option.

The bids are for grandstand construction only and do not include lighting the structure or the track.

CBS Constructors, of McCook, Nebraska, submitted a base bid of $431,000. The company did not bid on raised support frame members. It bid $35,000 for interlocking decking, $4,000 for skirting and $10,000 for a higher level of slip resistance.

GT Grandstands, of Plant City, Florida, submitted a base bid of $442,470; $1,500 for raised support frames; $16,000 for interlocking decking, $8,140 for skirting and $11,640 for additional slip resistance.

Southern Bleachers, of Graham, Texas, submitted a base bid of $469,200 and said it would include raised support frames at no additional cost; $28,650 for interlocking decking, $2,745 for skirting and $9,300 for additional slip resistance.

Outdoor Aluminum, of Geneva, Alabama, submitted a base bid of $450,000; $17,000 for raised support frames, $19,000 for interlocking decking, $4,000 for skirting and $4,000 for additional slip resistance.

E&D Specialty Stands, of North Collins, New York, submitted a base bid of $413,130; $9,950 for raised support frames, $7,480 for interlocking decking, $10,330 for skirting and $3,360 for additional slip resistance.

Valiern, of Denver, Colorado, did not include a bid bond and its bid was rejected. Sturdisteel, of Waco, Texas, submitted forms marked “no bid.”

County engineers will meet with the fair board to discuss options and then make recommendations to commissioners, who will vote on the bids during their meeting, Jan. 24.

“We can accept one or none (of the bids),” Geuy said. “We have to see what fits the fair board’s needs best.”

Fair board secretary Jerry Schaffner had previously reported that $246,000 in grants, $175,000 in pledges and $69,000 in cash donations have been raised for the project. Fundraising for the new grandstand continues and donors can contribute to the project by contacting the Community Foundation of Shelby County at 497-7800.

By Patricia Ann Speelman

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4824.

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