Bowerston Council awards $8M in contracts, sets trunk-or-treat for Oct. 31

At the Sept. 16 meeting of the Bowerston Village Council, multiple contracts were awarded for two bidding projects.

Matt Miller of W.E. Quicksall & Associates Inc. was present at the meeting to advise council of the bids received for both the Water Distribution System and Water Storage Tank Project and the Sanitary Sewer Collection System and Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project.

Miller reviewed with council the bids received and advised that his firm had performed an evaluation on each contractor, for which he had prepared a notification of award, should council agree to proceed.

Regarding the water distribution project, Contract 1, for the water distribution work, was awarded to Clell Construction Inc. in the amount of $2,057,780. Contract 2, for new water meters, was awarded to NECO in the amount of $165,328, and Contract 3, for the water storage tank, was awarded to Mid Atlantic Storage in the amount of $780,635.

Miller reported that the total of these awards is $3,003,743 with the total funding for the project at $5,245,400, of which all but $1,200,000 is grant funded.

Regarding the sanitary sewer project, Contract 1, for the sanitary sewer collection system and pump stations, was awarded to H.M. Miller Construction in the amount of $2,297,083.60. Contract 2, for the wastewater treatment plant improvements, was awarded to Stanley Miller Construction Co. in the amount of $2,743,435.

Miller said the total bid amount for this $5,067,685 project is $5,040,518.60 and is currently fully grant funded.

Council unanimously voted to approve all these contracts.

Mayor Paula Beamer said she has been working closely with Village Administrator Bart Busby and Utility Operator Jeremiah Warner to ensure that these projects move forward in a timely manner so that all the awarded grant monies are utilized.

Council President Juliet Bryant reported to council that a trunk-or-treat event is being organized for Friday, Oct. 31. Bryant said she is working with the Bowerston Community Women’s Club and has spoken with representatives of the fire department and Methodist churches to assist in coordination.

Bryant requested council’s permission to close Main Street for the event so there is no danger from vehicle traffic. Council unanimously agreed. Further details will be released later.

Lastly, Beamer updated council on the progress of the projected multi-community trail that she has been working on with neighboring villages. Beamer reported that there is currently a QR survey on the village’s website at www.villageofbowerston.org.

In other action: 

— Passed Ordinance 10-2025, updating income tax laws, effective Jan. 1, 2026. 

— Approved Resolution 24-2025 to move monies within the same fund accounts. 

— Passed Resolution 25-2025 approving Beamer to enter into an agreement, if necessary, with the wastewater pollution control loan fund. 

— Approved Beamer to change telephone and Wi-Fi services to Spectrum. 

— Approved Busby to sign an agreement with MS Consultants for property acquisition for the Bridge Street bridge replacement project. 

— Learned that the Harrison County commissioners have agreed to provide $10,000 for the garage roof replacement project. 

— Approved the opening of an account with STAR Ohio, with $500,000 transferred from Unified Bank. 

— Learned that the 2023-24 audit is complete.

The next regular meeting of the Bowerston Village Council will be held Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. in the village hall.