By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Salisbury City Council has awarded a $119,821 contract to Otis Elevator Co. to refurbish the 80-year-old elevator at the old City Hall.
The building at 132 N. Main St. still houses several city departments and a customer service center.
Otis Elevator submitted an original low bid of $135,895 but said it could rebuild the existing lifting portion of the elevator to save $16,074.
When the original $135,895 bid came in, Councilman Bill Burgin, an architect, said it sounded too high and asked staff to investigate whether Otis could provide any cost savings.
Salisbury Purchasing Manager Dewey Peck said completing the elevator’s modernization will require considerable work by outside contractors for an additional $15,000 to $20,000.
The total project has a budget of $150,000, and Otis’ ability to cut $16,074 from its low bid will help cover the outside work and stay within budget, Peck reported.
Otis also was awarded a $350-a-month maintenance contract for five years. The contract covers all parts and labor.
Previously, the maintenance contract was $945 a month. The costs savings in the maintenance contract, if spread over almost 17 years, will pay for modernizing the elevator this year, Peck said.
Other bidders on the elevator project were Kone Elevator Co. and Schindler Elevator Co.