Blawnox Council awarded about $1.2 million to four contractors to build a new fire hall to replace the cramped quarters in the 71-year-old borough building and fire hall on Freeport Road.

Council took out a $2.8 million municipal bond earlier this year to pay for a total renovation of the borough building and to draw down some old debt.

But when bids came in too high this summer, borough officials scrapped the project and instead decided just to build the fire hall next to the existing borough building and then renovate the borough building with the remaining money.

Council voted unanimously for the following service contract awards:

• Tomlyn Construction, LLC, Bakerstown, general contactor, $978,500.

• Norris Plumbing, Tarentum, plumbing contractor, $71,200.

• L&F Electric, Pittsburgh, electrical contractor, $119,500.

• Three-Rivers Mechanical, Aliquippa, HVAC and mechanical contractor, $66,798.

The two-phase construction and remodeling process will continue throughout this year. Construction of the fire station is to begin about March 1 and be completed by Dec. 1.

To make way for the new fire hall, borough council will build a new salt shed on the borough’s water plant grounds but not right away.

Council last week voted to reject bids for the salt shed that Mayor Tom Smith and council members said came in too high.

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