Lower Providence Supervisors Award Contract for Public Works Building Solar Roof Project

Written by Community Editor Nicole Foulke

The Lower Providence Board of Supervisors voted to award a contract for the installation of solar panels on the roof of the township public works garage building D to Spotts Brothers Inc., a $64,850 bidder from Schuylkill Haven, at the board’s Thursday night meeting, pending approval from the US Department of Energy.

The board voted after Owen Hyne, consulting engineer for the Lower Providence township engineer Remington Vernick and Beach, gave his recommendation for Spotts Brothers, the lowest bidder out of five total bids the township had received, contingent on approval from the Department of Energy.

According to Hyne, the winning bidder has already done the kind of work that Lower Providence is asking them to do.  “They do have experience doing electrical work and solar work, in particular,” said Hyne.

Township Manager Richard Gestrich reminded those at the meeting that a second class township like Lower Providence is required to accept the lowest bid, if it is responsible.

“The bids came in under our $112,000 estimate,” Gestrich said after the meeting.” “You couldn’t ask for a better bid,” he said of the winning bid.

Supervisor Don Thomas reminded his colleagues that grants would fund the project and that the township would not have to use its own funds.

According to Hyne, there will also be a kiosk installed nearby to educate the public about the solar panels.

The goal for the project is to begin construction in November with an end date of Dec 12, said Hyne.