As has been the case with most construction projects for government entities, or about anyone, the bid received for the long-talked about Bridgeport Cemetery Mausoleum project came in higher than anticipated.

 

In Bridgeport City Council chambers Friday, only one bid was presented for the project. It came from Matthews Gibraltar Mausoleum Company out of Pittsburgh.

 

The lump sum bid for the project was $4,217,951.

 

“We’ll have to go through this,” Shuttleworth told the representative from Matthews that showed up for the bid opening.

 

Shuttleworth said a decision will not come immediately on whether to accept the bid. However, he said a decision would likely come as an agenda item for City Council in June at either the June 13 or June 27 meeting.

 

“We’ll potentially get back to you if there are changes or deductions we want to make (in the plans),” Shuttleworth said. “Then, it has to go to City Council for final approval.”

 

The bid coming in high was not a surprise.

 

“We kind of anticipated it,” said Shuttleworth. “A lot of the granite that is involved in this comes from overseas and the cost of shipping has more than double over the last year. Because of that, and the cost of everything construction wise led to that … Even issues with the supply chain are leading to this.”

 

This is not the first project this year that has come in over what was estimated as all phases of the construction phase are seeing increases of a substantial nature almost weekly. Such was the case with the renovation cost for the Bridgeport Fire Department’s Main Street station.

 

Another factor that Shuttleworth believed played into a higher number is most of the subcontractors included in the project are also providing prices that are a bit higher. He said there is another reason, along with the aforementioned reasons, as well.

 

“The subs are extremely busy right now. When they’re busy, the price goes up. When they’re hungry (for work), the price goes down,” he said.

 

There is funding in place, but not enough to cover the cost of this project. However, there was not enough regardless. Shuttleworth said there is close to $2 million available.

 

The money available comes from the Bridgeport Cemetery Trust Fund that was set up by Michael Benedum decades ago. The cemetery is allowed to pull a portion of dollars from the trust fund annually for maintenance and projects and the city has been putting that money back to help cover costs to get this going.

 

“We had already looked at financing options to finance the rest of the project with the plan being the payment made would also come from money we take from the trust fund, and, at the same time, revenues derived from the mausoleum,” said Shuttleworth.

 

At this point, Shuttleworth said the city will work with the finance department and city administration and have conversations with financial institutions to see what a payment would be to settle debt incurred. From there, the determination has to be made to see if the payment is feasible.

 

“You have to also have the discussion with consultant on this project as to whether you delay at and rebid it in hopes the prices will come down,” he said. “That’s a risky take if you delay it. I haven’t seen construction prices come down at all, but I keep seeing them to go up. That will part of the discussion.”

 

The mausoleum will be located in the back corner of the cemetery, near the airport side of things. Shuttleworth said it will be a large pavilion style facility with wood features in the architecture with a focal point being impressive timbers.

 

If completed, it will include 300 crypts and a place for “niches,” which is where cremation remains are placed. There will be room for hundreds of niches in the facility, which is designed for expansion if necessary.

 

The mausoleums have a chapel inside. The chapel will serve as a place for services on-site, as well as a place to go in the event of inclement weather.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Joe Shuttleworth opening the lone bid received Friday while Cemetery Manager Tricia Bombardiere is to his right. Bottom shows architectural rendering of the finished product.