The Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission has received a total of four bids from companies for their design guideline updates.
Those companies include JMI of Columbus, Ohio, with a bid of $24,927, Lakota Group of Chicago, Ill., with a bid of $30,880, RGB of Des Moines with a bid of $39,770, and MIA of Evanston, Ill., with a bid of $32,260.
Volunteers with the commission as well as president Sue Astley will review the proposals to determine how they differ and which meets the majority of the requests for the project. While the costs for the bids are known, it is not the primary factor for deciding the contract for the commission.
Wade Squiers, who has announced his plans to leave the commission, will assist the committee as they review the proposals.
The commission hopes a firm can be selected within the next 30 days.
If there is a needed increase of funding for any of the proposals, the commission may take that request to the Mount Vernon City Council.
MVHPC approves certificate of appropriateness for shed re-siding
The Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission approved a residing request a certificate of appropriateness for John and Marti McGrane.
The McGrane’s property is located in the Cornell College Historic District, and the home was not listed as a contributing structure in the historic district records.
The McGrane’s were residing the shed, which is along the southeast portion of their property and near the city alley. The shed is not visible from adjacent Third Street or Fifth Avenue. Jim Engelbrecht assisted in finding a siding material similar to the material that was on the building, which is wood based product molded in the design of normal siding.
The McGrane’s will be doing the installation of the siding themselves.