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Lucas County Commissioners Award Ballpark Construction Masonry Bid
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Lucas County Commissioners Award Ballpark Construction Masonry Bid
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More Ballpark Bonds Sold
Lucas County Commissioners today awarded one of the last two remaining
construction bids for the new Lucas County Ballpark in downtown Toledo. The bid totals
$2.97 million for masonry work. The only remaining bid to be awarded is for stadium
seating.
Lathrop Construction, ballpark construction manager, recommended the bid be
awarded to G.A. Masonry of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, after receiving a second round
of bids for the masonry work. Lucas County Commissioners rejected the original
masonry bid process a few weeks ago, because the only bid received significantly
exceeded project estimates.
"We have done everything we can to stimulate local interest in the construction of
this ballpark," said Sandy Isenberg, President of the Lucas County Board of
Commissioners. "Unfortunately, only one local company bid on the work the first time
around, then decided not to resubmit a bid this time."
G.A. Masonry officials have assured ballpark construction managers that the
company is committed to using as much of the available local workforce as possible to
perform the work.
"The lack of local companies bidding on this part of the ballpark project is
reflective of the lack of young people entering the masonry profession, as well as the
building boom going on in Northwest Ohio," said Lucas County Commissioner Harry
Barlos. "Local masonry companies have all the work they can handle now, and not
enough people to go around to do every job that's available. The masonry field will
receive priority as Lucas County embarks on its new mandated mission of workforce
development."
Lucas County Commissioners also approved the sale of $6 million worth of
economic development revenue bonds to help pay ballpark construction costs. Lucas
County Treasurer Ray Kest has committed to buying the bonds, which will be backed by
proceeds from the sale of Founder's Suites at the new ballpark. The net savings to
taxpayers will be about one million dollars, because the bonds will be repaid at a lower
interest rate, and there are no transaction fees or other costs involved in issuing the bonds.
Lucas County Treasurer Ray Kest told commissioners he believes this is the first
time a transaction like this has been attempted anywhere in the country.
"We continue to look for unique opportunities to save money on ballpark
construction without sacrificing the quality of what will be a first-class facility," said
Lucas County Commissioner Bill Copeland. "We have already taken advantage of a
favorable interest rate in issuing the main set of ballpark bonds, and now we've created
more savings with this latest bond issue."
Excavation, concrete and steel work are going on simultaneously on the ballpark
site, bordered by Huron, St. Clair, Washington and Monroe Streets. Passersby will begin
to see the ballpark's steel skeleton take shape in the downtown Toledo skyline by late
spring or early summer. The Lucas County Ballpark is scheduled to open in April, 2002,
in time for the Mud Hens home opener.
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