Mount Vernon council awards $3.77 million contract for South 44th Street Phase II

The Mount Vernon City Council voted to award the South 44th Street Phase II frontage road construction and improvements to Ilberry Road and Heritage Avenue to Guinzy Construction, Inc., the low bidder at $3,769,714.27.

City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel presented four bids and recommended acceptance of Guinzy Construction’s proposal. Council Member Donte Moore moved to accept the bid results and award the contract; Council Member Joe Gliosci seconded. The motion carried (Yeas: Ray Botch, Joe Gliosci, Donte Moore, Mayor John Lewis; Absent: Mike Young).

Bechtel told the council construction is expected to begin in spring 2024. The other bids reported to the council were Baxmeyer at $3,975,147.77; Kamadulski Excavating at $4,443,144.80; and E. T. Simonds at $4,607,599.29.

The contract award was presented as a staff‑recommended procurement item; the council took the vote during the meeting’s business agenda. No amendments or conditional approvals were recorded in the meeting minutes. The city did not identify in the minutes any additional funding sources or financing terms during the presentation.

The council’s approval concludes the local procurement step reported at the March 4 meeting; work timelines, change‑order authority and notice‑to‑proceed dates were not specified in the minutes.