By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
It came as no surprise when Moderalli Excavating was awarded the Schines Theatre demolition contract Thursday afternoon.
Moderalli Excavating, a company out of Poland, Ohio, submitted the lowest bid for both demolition and asbestos abatement. Though their original bid came in at $397,700, it was discovered that an unintended duplicated line actually put the bid at $396,200. The bid came in under the city’s estimated $400,000 for the project.
H&H Environmental of Tiffin will be helping with the asbestos as a subcontractor. The city previously used the company with Moving Ohio Forward projects.
Though the Board of Control committee awarded the bid to Moderalli Excavating, the city still needs final paperwork on a state grant in hand before it can move forward with the project. Administrative Assistant Eunice Collene, the driving force behind the project, said they may have the agreement in hand by as early as next week and hope to have the contractors starting on the building by July 16.
The state of the theater has made it clear that everything collected from it will be treated as if it were contaminated with asbestos.
“It’d be next to impossible to separate,” Collene said.
Current demolition plans are to close Sandusky Avenue and Warren Street, as recommended by JD Jones of Ohio Rural Development Corporation. The fire department will also be on hand.
“It’s just going to be safer to shut it down,” Collene explained.
A few items have been rescued from the rubble, however. Mayor Jeff Reser said they were able to save some movie reels and other items. Though he doesn’t know what they will exactly do with the items, Reser hoped they would be able to somehow incorporate some of them into the upcoming Schines Art Park.