The Butler Redevelopment Authority on Thursday awarded a $156,651 contract to reconstruct Lincoln Avenue and make ramps for people with disabilities.

Authority board members unanimously voted to award the contract to Heeter Enterprises of Emlenton, which submitted the lowest of five bids for the project. The bids were opened Wednesday.

The project includes rebuilding about 400 feet of Lincoln Avenue from Short Street to Grant Street including the section in front of Butler Arbors, a federally subsidized apartment building for elderly and disabled people.

Engineer Ron Olsen of Olsen Craft Associates said he reviewed the bids to make sure the unit prices matched the bid prices and found that Heeter was the lowest responsible bidder even though its bid was substantially less than the others.

The other bids ranged from $251,315 to $319,244.

Board member Brian McCafferty said he was concerned about the differences in the bid amounts.

Olsen said Heeter's bid is close to the engineering estimate of $151,827.

He said Heeter worked on authority projects in the past, including the farmers' market.

It can take a couple weeks for the authority and Heeter to sign the contract, Olsen said. When it is signed, Heeter will receive a notice to begin work in 10 days and the project must be substantially completed in 90 days and fully completed in 120 days.

In other business, no public comments were given during a hearing held before the meeting on the this year's Community Development Block Grant.

Acting executive director Veronica Walker said she is anticipating the grant will be $296,249, the same amount received last year, but she hasn't yet been notified about the amount.

No ideas for spending the grant were received at the hearing, but a second hearing will be held before city council considers approval, she said.

In addition, the authority agreed to pay $1,581 to repair the two furnaces that heat its offices and the tier parking garage where the offices are located.

The city owns the building, but the authority wanted to pay the bill to thank council for not charging rent for the offices.

“Just a small way to say thanks,” McCafferty said.

Board members also learned that Deer Creek Winery is closing its retail store at 145 N. Main St. on the ground floor of the Penn Theater.

The winery submitted a letter giving the authority the required 30-day notice of its plans to move out. In the letter, Deer Creek said it was closing the store due to poor sales.