EMERSON—New construction bids to install an elevator at the borough’s firehouse are due by July 19, said the administrator, following the council’s recent rejection of a single bid received for the project.
Borough administrator Robert Hermansen said the bid came in at slightly over $1 million. “We were very surprised at the number that came in—and only one bid,” Hermansen told Pascack Press.
Hermansen noted that the architect made “a few tweaks” in the bid specifications before recently making them available. He said several contractors had picked up bid specs, but only one official bid was turned in by the prior deadline.
While Hermansen declined to reveal an estimated project cost, the borough recently received a $199,000 Community Development Block Grant from its unfunded projects fund. Hermansen previously noted the town requested $250,000 for the project, which was anticipated to offset the majority of the project’s cost.
Previously, borough engineer David Atkinson said they had an estimated cost for project bids, but if bids come in over that, the council can reject the bids and re-bid the project.
In January, Hermansen said the elevator project could solve multiple problems, including making the second floor more accessible for older firefighters and ladies’ auxiliary members who are not able to walk up stairs. It would also provide a polling place to replace the current school polling site, enhancing school security and children’s safety by removing the polling place.
Hermansen said county officials were looking for towns to use unfunded project funds for their proposed projects, as they do not want to send these funds back to the federal government. He said soft costs on the project, including architectural and engineering fees, are not covered under the $199,000 grant.
He said the project includes a new entryway or breezeway, noting the firehouse’s front entrance will be bumped out about 13 feet, with two doors on the side, allowing visitors easy access to the elevator or stairs.
Other Improvements
On June 25, the borough introduced a bond ordinance to authorize $172,000 in funding for the borough’s portion of a recreation project to improve two tennis courts and three tennis/pickleball courts at Emerson Junior-Senior High School. A portion of those funds will come from a county open space grant, said Hermansen. A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for July 23.
Hermansen said the surface being applied is “better than asphalt” and will enhance the courts.
Moreover, the council approved a resolution on June 25 to make improvements at Ackerman Park basketball court. While the construction contract came in at $220,000, the borough will contribute $120,111 in Open Space and recreation grants, with the balance coming from borough funds.
In her message to residents, Mayor Danielle DiPaola wrote, “The Borough and the Emerson Board of Education have entered into a shared service where the borough will be contributing towards lining new tennis courts for pickleball play as well. Matching funds are being utilized from a 2022 Bergen County Open Space Grant. We anticipate this project to be completed in the fall.”
She added, “A contract was awarded at our June 25th meeting to resurface the three basketball courts and install new backboards at Ackerman Park. Matching funds are being utilized from a 2023 Bergen County Open Space Grant. We anticipate this project to be completed in September.”