Council awards $1.84 million contract for Mentor Marsh observation tower

The Mentor City Council on Jan. 20 unanimously approved Ordinance 26-003 to award a contract to Great Lakes Crushing LTD for construction of an observation tower at Mentor Marsh.

City staff said the project calls for a 100-foot-tall steel-and-wood observation tower with a 25-by-25-foot observation deck at the top. "This project consists of the construction of a 100 foot tall steel and wood observation tower with a 25 by 25 foot observation deck at the top," the city engineer summarized.

Bids were opened Dec. 12. The council awarded the base bid plus Alternate 2, which includes hot-dip galvanizing of structural steel. Staff reported the lowest total bid, including Alternate 2, was $1,837,159 from Great Lakes Crushing LTD of Willowick, Ohio; the engineer's opinion of probable construction cost was $1,850,000. Council also noted the project has been awarded $450,000 in state capital funding through the General Assembly (referenced in the transcript as a state capital grant).

City staff recommended awarding the contract after verifying the low bid met contract requirements. The city said the scheduled final completion date is 270 days (approximately nine months) after issuance of a notice to proceed.

The council first voted to suspend the rules and then to approve the ordinance; roll call showed unanimous approval. No amendments or conditions were recorded during the meeting.

Next steps include executing the contract and issuing the notice to proceed; staff did not announce a construction start date at the meeting.