Truesdale city officials appear to be leaning toward awarding a contract to expand city hall to a local contractor, but has delayed a decision until further reviewing the bid.

T.S. Banze Construction, of Warrenton, submitted the lowest of nine bids received for constructing a 34-foot, 6-inch by 30-foot, 6-inch addition to the west of the existing city hall.

Banze’s base bid was $230,361, with an additional $16,000 in alternates to be included to cover areas such as replacing the existing windows, siding, gutters, downspouts and soffit.

Engineers, however, continue to look at ways to lower the overall project cost. Brian Gentges, of Cochran Engineering, estimated the city could save up to $12,000 in addendums to the bid package.

The areas that might lead to cost savings include changing from a 600 to 400 amp electrical service, pouring concrete rather than using concrete blocks in a storage room and using a Romax wire in place of electrical conduit.

City officials also may decide to keep five windows in the existing city hall, a potential cost savings of $2,500.

Gentges recommended the board delay approving the project until Banze can revise some figures and compare those with the original bid.

Aldermen were expected to vote and approve Banze’s bid at Wednesday’s regular board meeting.

“If the number is not good enough, then we should leave it,” Gentges said.

Lamb Construction had the second-lowest base bid at $238,000. The remaining seven bids ranged from $243,980 to $298,600. With the alternates, the eight other bids were between $267,100 and $328,169. Bids were opened July 15.

Estimates provided by Cochran Engineering had the 1,035-square-foot addition costing $210,700. With the bid alternates, Cochran’s estimate increased to $230,000. The city has $250,000 budgeted for the project.

City Clerk Mary Lou Rainwater also stated the city is trying to take advantage of funds available from AmerenUE if energy-efficiency items are used.

The current city hall will be renovated to include separate evidence and interview rooms and the relocation of the public restroom. The chamber area will remain in the same location.

The proposed addition includes separate offices for the city clerk, treasurer and mayor along with a break room and storage room. Space also would be available for a receptionist, a new city official agreed previously they would like to see in the future.

Mayor Murray Bruer remained adamant that the city should move forward with the project after Alderman Donald McGee raised concerns about the price.

“I think it’s going to be needed,” Bruer remarked. “It’s needed now. No. 1, with the police department. No. 2, storage is a problem. No. 3, we have only one restroom so we need to do that. There is nothing to do except do an add on. If we’re going to do an add on, we might as well do it now for 20 to 25 years into the future rather than in 10 years we have to  tear this down and build a new one. I think we’re ahead of the game.”

McGee, however, noted that talks on expanding city hall began with thoughts of adding only two rooms.

“It’s more money than what we want to spend,” he said. “We’re actually going with a bigger building than what I had planned, a lot bigger.”

In February, Bruer reinitiated talks on the need to see the expansion proceed after months of inaction on the issue. The board then voted in March to proceed with the project.

It was a reversal of sorts from action taken in August when the board voted 4-0 to delay any expansion plans due to city officials disagreeing on the cost and size of the project.

Once the contract is awarded, the contractor will have 150 days to complete the project, according to Gentges. He expects work to be finished within 100 days.

Work will begin on the new addition to allow offices to be moved before the current structure is renovated.