Bids On Library Renovation Project Come In On Target

Eight bids were received on the conversion of the former 5th/3rd Bank building into the new Effingham library home, and the bids came in on target.

The bid opening Friday afternoon on the construction phase showed base bids ranging from $2,763,000 to $3,131,616. The estimated cost is $3 million.

Poettker Construction of Breese is the apparent low base bidder. The firm could have been benefitted on its costs by already being in town to build the Workman Sports and Wellness Center.

Four local firms bid on the work; Grunloh Construction's low bid is $2,863,000, the bid from K. Wohltman Construction was $2,906,267, Grunloh Builders bid $2,942,618, and Heritage Builders bid $3,131,616. Again, those are just the base bids, those numbers do not included the firms' bids on the alternates.

Other bids were submitted by CDI, Incorporated of Terre Haute, Korte and Luitjohan of Highland, and Shores Builders of Centralia.

Representatives of Johnson Roberts Associates Architects, who did the design work on the conversion, handled the bid opening. They said the alternates involve addressing deferred maintenance and infrastructure improvements at the former bank building.

Helen Matthes Library Director Amanda McKay was happy after the bid opening, since the bids were what they hoped. McKay said the architects will review the bids over the weekend. A special Library Board meeting has been scheduled for 6:30pm Tuesday to consider awarding the bid for the work.