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Washington County commissioners approve dozens of contracts, grants and RFPs including bridge change order and mental‑health housing award
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Summary
At its April 2 meeting, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $43,954.56 change order for the Cross Street No. 33 bridge (100% federal funds), awarded an RFP for mental‑health transitional housing to the Mental Health Association (approx. $321,530), allocated HUD ESG funds to three providers and approved multiple bid awards and contract extensions, all by roll call.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners on April 2 approved a package of contracts, change orders, grant renewals and procurement actions covering capital projects, human services and vendor contracts.
Key approvals included a $43,954.56 supplement (increase) for the Cross Street No. 33 Bridge replacement project — bringing the contract total to $463,442.23 — and the award of an RFP for mental‑health transitional housing to the Mental Health Association of Washington County at an estimated cost of $321,530. Purchasing staff said the bridge change is required because of tractor‑trailer deliveries to businesses on County Park Road and that the bridge project is 100% federally funded.
The board also approved HUD Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) allocations for emergency shelter and homelessness prevention: Connect Inc ($130,653), Domestic Violence Services of Southwest PA ($43,000), and Blueprints ($111,000). In addition, the commissioners approved a bid award to RC Concrete (Bergstown, PA) for retaining wall blocks along the Panhandle Trail ($40,005.65), extended multiple vendor contracts (including Enviroscines Inc for dam diagnostics and WB Mason/High Touch for office supplies), and extended the Powell’s Auto Body vehicle repair contract with specified hourly rates.
Other contract approvals included a reduction of $88,150 to the Courthouse Square demo contract with Dammah Demolition Company (revising the total to $1,467,550), a renewal grant agreement for Juvenile Probation Services ($250,889), and a provider agreement with National Mentor Healthcare (doing business as Pennsylvania Mentor) for placement services, authorization amount $150,000.
Legal and technical contracts approved at the meeting included an agreement with Betterment Engineering for forensic accident reconstruction and PhD‑level review ($500 per hour) for the district attorney’s office; an agreement with McMillan Engineering for Family Court Center roof engineering services ($33,950); and a 36‑month equipment lease with Lenovo Financial Services for eight laptops at $314.13 per month. Purchasing also sought and won authorization to advertise several RFPs and bids (homeless assistance programming, park signage, campus dumpster/waste removal, office security panels, flooring projects and a commodity flow study for hazardous materials).
Where recorded, these items passed on motions that were seconded and approved by roll call. No significant debate followed the recommendations from staff; commissioners generally voted in the affirmative.
Why it matters: The approvals move multiple county projects and service contracts toward implementation — affecting infrastructure, behavioral health housing, emergency shelter services, and county operations. Several items include federal or grant funding and therefore do not require additional county general funds, though some will be paid from operating budgets for specific offices.
The board also approved tax refunds totaling $108,905.67 later in the meeting and adjourned after routine announcements.
