Hancock Commission approves security bid

NEW CUMBERLAND - The Hancock County Commission has accepted a bid for a project that will place a security system at the front doors of the county courthouse.

The commission awarded the project to Harry Trushel Construction of Weirton in the amount of $132,800.

Economic Development Coordinator Chuck Svokas stated Trushel expects the project to take 90 days to complete. Svokas stated the company would be able to begin within 10 days of bid approval.

Commissioner Dan Greathouse stated the entrance, which leads to the Hancock County Sheriff's Office, will be closed until the system is fully installed.

Svokas stated that during construction, visitors to the courthouse will be required to use the western entrance. Svokas added both 20-minute parking and handicap parking spaces will be created near the temporary entrance to accommodate visitors.

"We're going to be minus some parking spaces, so if you can postpone your trip to the courthouse, it would probably be a good idea," Svokas said. "But we're going to try to get as much parking in as we can."

The commission approved the bid unanimously based on a recommendation from Louis Bernardi of Bernardi Enterprises in Weirton.

Trushel submitted one of five bids for the project, with the other four being Walters Construction Inc., $160,694; Lombardi Development, $166,500; DeSalvo Construction, $212,000; and Jarvis, Downing and Emrich Inc., $221,000.

In other business, the commission approved a petition which seeks an order for the demolition of an abandoned building located at 721 Ohio River Blvd. in Weirton.

Svokas stated that the owner, Simon Kikcio, did not have plans to repair the structure and has granted the county permission to enter the property and demolish the building.

The commission also approved a proposed bid from Kell's Heating and Cooling Inc., for a heat pump unit for the 911 Center in the amount of $5,200, and approved the payment of general county bills in the amount of $62,375.44.

(Matsick can be contacted at jmatsick@reviewonline.com)