Judge Weighs in on Capitol Renovations

A judge says the state properly awarded a $3 million contract for a security project at the Capitol Complex. Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Joanna Tabit’s decision came in a lawsuit filed by McClanahan Construction of Poca, and the order said McClanahan admitted that it couldn’t comply with a 120-day deadline to compete the project. McClanahan was the low bidder for the contract but was disqualified for submitting a nonconforming bid. The state awarded the contract to the second-lowest bidder, Wiseman Construction of Charleston. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the state plans to install a fence surrounding the Governor’s Mansion and convert two parking lots adjacent to the Culture Center into a bus turnaround.