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Commissioners approve $63,300 lead remediation contract; staff to boost contractor outreach after single bid
Summary
Lorain County approved a $63,300 payment to GenMet Construction for lead remediation and home repairs under the Lead Safe Ohio program; commissioners pressed staff about the single bid and asked for outreach and contractor-certification assistance.
The Lorain County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 14 approved payment of $63,300 to GenMet Construction for work on a Lead Safe Ohio rehabilitation project at 808 West Ninth Street, Elyria (the agenda listed the address). The project will pay for siding replacement, new soffits and trim wrapping, basement windows, entry and storm doors, and lead remediation work; the award was funded from the county's Lead Safe (Lead Safe Ohio/“LEHI Grama”) account, staff said.
"One of the major goals of the program is to improve the quality of the housing stock within the county," a county community development staff member said when commissioners questioned why the work exceeds the house's previously listed value. The staff member also noted historic appraisal differences and said the county's 2024 documentation lists a value of $89,000 for the property.
Commissioners and staff raised concerns that only one bid was received for the work. "Question for you in regards to the single bid on the contract... I'd like to see a process there that you go out and pound on the doors of people that do that versus just maybe publishing it," Commissioner Gallagher said. Staff replied they maintain a qualified contractor list, that contractors must meet bonding and insurance requirements, and that this was the first Lead Safe Ohio project with a single bidder. Staff said they will expand outreach, distribute a survey to curated contractors, hold meet-and-greet events, and explore training and certification support to increase local participation.
The motion to award the contract to GenMet Construction passed by recorded vote. Commissioners asked staff to prepare a follow-up report on outreach results and proposed steps to shorten county payment turnaround times, which contractors said can discourage participation.
