Mahanoy Area approves purchase of hot water heater

John E. Usalis, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·2 min read

Mar. 30—MAHANOY CITY — The Mahanoy Area school board conditionally accepted a low bid to replace an aging hot water heater.

Five companies submitted bids for the project, with the lowest being $59,000 from T&T/Lanco Inc., Reading. The breakdown is as follows: existing unit removal, $2,414.50; materials and supplies, $51,881.50; and labor costs, $4,704.

"We will review those documents to make sure they are bidding on the correct unit," district Business Administrator John J. Hurst said at Thursday's school board meeting. "If they are not bidding on the correct unit, then the next low bidder would be Bognet Inc., Hazleton, at $66,000.

Hurst was asked by a board member about the specifics of the unit.

"This is an industrial-size hot water heater to do the entire school," Hurst said.

Facilities Director Edward Blazis added, "It's a 400-gallon oil-fired water heater."

In other business, the board also conditionally accepted the low bid for diesel fuel from Central Highway Oil Co., Frackville, at $2.018 per gallon.

The bid will be reviewed before the contract is officially awarded. Hurst said the price is 67 cents higher than the current year price of $1.348 per gallon, an increase of about 49.7%.

"Following the petroleum markets the past couple months, that is not surprising as the price of gasoline has also risen significantly," Hurst said.

The board approved the following county repository sale bids on properties in Mahanoy City:

—1103 E. Market St. Bidder is Robert Sendatch at $1,498.

—1116 E. Market St. Bidders are Melvin Osorio Frias and Selly De Osorio at $1,754.

—25 W. Spruce St. Bidder is Elio Mathias Fernandez at $1,435.

—27 E. Spruce St. Bidder is Valentine Frias De Osorio at $1,303.

The following private sales also were approved:

—928 E. Pine St. Bidder is Andri Cabrera at $4,778.

—28 E. Maple St. Bidder is Andri Cabrera at $4,294.

—117 W. Spruce St. Bidder is Brian Polanco at $5,909.

—901 E. Pine St. Bidder is Brian Polanco at $1,440.

—903 E. Pine St. Bidder is Joseph Ramos at $8,068.

—722 E. Pine St. Bidder is Yeferson Sanchez at $3,854.

—204 W. Pine St. Bidder is Yeferson Sanchez at $2,462.

—206 W. Pine St. Bidder is Yeferson Sanchez at $2,243.

The board acted on the following agenda items:

—Approved the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 administrative and program budget for the 2021-22 school year. Hurst said no contributions from the district are required.

—Approved the 2021-22 inter-entity agreement for special education services with the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21.

Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023