Highlands looking at about $100K for Tarentum clock tower project

Repairs to the clock tower at Highlands Elementary School in Tarentum could cost the district nearly $100,000, based on bids opened Thursday.

Highlands received two bids for the project, from Wilson Restoration of Plum and Pullman SST of Kennedy.

A third company, Marsa of Castle Shannon, attempted to submit a bid at the 3:30 p.m. deadline, but the district would not accept it. Buildings and Grounds Director Chris Reiser said the administration office’s security system showed the representative entering and delivering the bid package at 3:33 p.m.

The district’s project seeks to repair the clock tower’s masonry, fix its leaking roof and replace the broken clock.

The base bid covers cleaning and re-pointing the tower’s exterior walls. There were also two alternates — the first included a more intensive cleaning of the exterior, while the second calls for rebuilding parts of the tower’s roof.

Wilson’s base bid was $98,250. The based bid from Pullman SST is $79,300.

Wilson bid $8,500 for the first alternate and $3,500 for the second; Pullman bid $6,308 for the first alternate and $89,000 for the second alternate.

There was no immediate explanation for the apparent differences in the bids on the second alternate. The bids are under review.

The school board already approved paying VEBH Architects about $22,000 for architectural services related to the project.

In March, businessman John Greco Jr. and his wife, Sally Greco, of Lower Burrell donated $25,000 to the district for the work on the clock tower. Greco, owner of P.G. Greco Sons and JG’s Tarentum Station Grille, made the donation in honor of his parents, John and Pauline Greco.

Reiser said the school board could act on the bids at its May 20 meeting.

District officials previously said they expect the work to be done over the summer.