Contractor approved to build the new Vangeli’s

A contract worth $745 thousand has been awarded to J-Davis Construction to build the new Vangeli’s restaurant on Seneca’s Ramcat Alley. The job was authorized during the annual meeting yesterday of the Seneca Improvements Corporation, on a recommendation by Scott Moulder, corporation president and city administrator. J-Davis’s bid was the highest of three received, but Moulder said the state licenses of the other bidders disqualify them for work that exceeds the costs involved in a project such as the Vangeli construction. Mayor Dan Alexander abstained from the awarding of the contract explaining that, as the owner of other Ramcat Alley property, he wished to avoid any potential conflict of interest on his part. In an associated action, the Oconee Federal Savings and Loan extended a line of credit up to $900 thousand to cover additional project costs not included in the original estimate. Although the construction award is $745 thousand, Moulder believes that, thru “value engineering”, the job can be done below $700 thousand. According to Moulder, it’s possible the new restaurant can be finished by December 23.