Bid opening: Architect firm representative Jeremy Proctor reads bids for the construction of the South Harrison Middle School. Pictured, in the background, are an interested local contractor Jeremy Eivins and maintenance director Ted Baker.
South Harrison school officials were pleased with the bid opening Thursday for the construction of the new Middle School.
The base bids submitted by five prospective general contractors on the 24,600-square-foot building were within the range of the more than $4 million financial package approved by the voters in the November general election.
Jeremy Proctor, a representative of the architects Ellison & Auxier, opened and then read the bids during a meeting in the high school library attended by representatives of companies bidding on the project.
School board President C.F. Rainey said school officials were concerned that the bids would come in high based upon what had occurred at several other North Missouri school districts. Rainey and school Superintendent Dennis Eastin were relieved that the bids were within the school’s budget.
After reviewing the bids, Ellison & Auxier will present a recommendation at Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting in the high school library.
Lawhon Construction of St. Joseph was the apparent low bidder on the project. Lawhon’s base bid was $3,437,700.
The other bidders were:
Brooner Construction, $3,908.072; Herner, $3,534,000; Lee Grover, $3,698.500, and NW Builders, $3,817,000.
The contractors also submitted bids on several alternative features that could be included in the final project. Potential upgrades include food services, bleachers and goals for the gymnasium and placing a Bulldog on the floor of the commons area.
Eastin said the school board may also decide to finish the entire building with brick instead of only bricking the front.
The building addition, which will be built north of the present high school building, will accommodate students from grades 5-8.
Construction could begin as early as this spring.