MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Borough Council announced that bids for the Shamokin Creek Flood Control project were opened by the Department of General Services (DGS) earlier this month.
"This is the furthest the creek project has ever been in 30 years," President Tony Matulewicz said Thursday night during the council's monthly meeting.
The project is expected to alleviate flooding of properties along Shamokin Creek.
A letter from David Grey, project coordinator from SEDA-Council of Governments, was provided in an agenda packet that listed 10 contractors who bid for the project.
Jay Fulkroad and Sons had the lowest bid of $9,897,641.72, and Glenn O Hawbaker Inc. had the highest bid of $15,916,904.
"This is only a preliminary list. DGS estimates it will be a couple of weeks until a finalized
list is released," Grey wrote in his letter.
Officials have up to 60 days from the time the bid is opened to award it; the contractor who receives the bid has another 60 days to sign off on the project.
The borough is not responsible for the entire cost of the project; rather, DGS bid out the services. The borough's obligations included acquiring rights to land around the creek, consolidating the deeds and signing them over to DGS.
Soil samples
The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a subsurface investigation for July 30 for the properties of Mount Carmel Area School District, Reading Anthracite and Stadium Car Wash. The purpose of the investigation is to retrieve soil samples to undergo laboratory analysis to determine if the area is strong enough to support an earth levee.
The project has been held up several times over least three decades for various reasons.
In other business: - An executive session was held Monday and Thursday to discuss personnel matters concerning the transportation director and borough employees.
- The borough approved a curb cut request at 117 N. Maple St.
