Elkhart board opens squad-car upfitting bids, awards three demolition contracts

The Elkhart Board of Public Safety opened procurement bids and approved several demolition contract awards during its Oct. 14 meeting. The board first opened bid number 2502 for squad-car upfitting, recording two bids: Move Over Outfitters Incorporated at $154,087.59 and Auto Obsessions at $154,530.00; the board asked staff to review the submissions and report back before awarding that contract.

Clerk and staff read six competing demolition bids for four addresses. For 139 Superior Boulevard the board recorded bids from Cross Excavating & Demolition LLC ($12,213), Jerry Reed Excavating ($15,500), Beaver Excavating ($34,000), John Ward Concrete ($15,000), PELI Excavating ($13,788) and Underground Excavating ($27,491). After staff review the board voted to award the demolition contract for 139 Superior Boulevard to Cross Excavating as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for $12,213.

The board followed the same process for 510 Fremont Street and 3215 Kelsey Avenue. Bids for 510 Fremont ranged from Cross Excavating ($12,512) to Beaver Excavating ($38,000); the board awarded that demolition contract to Cross Excavating for $12,512. For 3215 Kelsey Avenue Cross Excavating’s bid of $7,661.25 was selected as the lowest responsive and responsible bid and the board approved that award.

One property, 1253 Columbian Avenue, was specifically tabled for further consideration; the board voted to postpone awarding that contract and directed staff to return with additional information. The board also approved motions assigning staff to review the bids for each property and report back with recommendations whenever necessary.

The decisions were procedural approvals of lowest-responsive-bidder awards; no appeals or protests were recorded on the minutes. The clerk recorded all motions and unanimous votes for each award and the board accepted staff’s recommendations during the meeting.