Hardin Gym demolition contract awarded after bid dispute – The Mexico Ledger
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Hardin Gym demolition contract awarded after bid dispute
By Sky Kauffman, Staff Writer
Posted 8/6/26
The long-delayed Hardin Gym demolition project finally took steps in the right direction.
Mexico City Council awarded the project to Donaldson Excavating LLC, of Mexico, and authorized …
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Hardin Gym demolition contract awarded after bid dispute
Tiger Rotenburger, facilities manager for Presser Arts Center, stands in front of Hardin Gym, which was constructed in 1914. It has since been condemned by the city and deemed a threat to public safety.
File photo
Posted
Thursday,August 6, 20265:00 am
By Sky Kauffman, Staff Writer
The long-delayed Hardin Gym demolition project finally took steps in the right direction.
Mexico City Council awarded the project to Donaldson Excavating LLC, of Mexico, and authorized City Manager Bruce Slagle to sign contract documents for the demolition of Hardin Gym, located at 920 S. Jefferson St. at the July 27 meeting.
Donaldson Excavating’s bid of $65,446 was the second-lowest bid submitted to the council for consideration. The lowest bid, which was almost half the cost at $38,000, belonged to JT Holman General Construction & Excavating LLC of Macon, but Deputy City Manager Drew Williford said city staff had significant performance concerns with the contractor.
According to the council agenda memo, City Engineer Greg Sewell reviewed demolition work completed by JT Holman General Construction & Excavating at 1224 W. Breckenridge Drive in 2023 when evaluating the bid. Concerns with performance included problems with asbestos mitigation, site security fencing, utility disconnects and demolition permitting.
James Holman, owner of JT Holman General Construction & Excavating and mayor of Macon, expressed his disapproval of the city’s decision during public comments.
“As a mayor from Macon, if something like this went down without consulting me and not telling me that you’re not taking my bid because of something that happened in the past,” Holman said. “That’s wrong in my opinion, and in our town, I wouldn’t have it.”
Holman added that the council’s decision is costing the organization more money
Funding for the project will be provided by the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Community Development Block Grant at no cost to the city. According to the council agenda memo, Presser Arts Center is providing the required 20% match.
When Presser first applied in 2024, CDBG funding for the demolition of Hardin Gym was initially denied. Before reapplying, city officials approved the hiring of the Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments for professional grant writing services at its April 8, 2025 meeting. The cost outlined in MTRCOG’s bid was not to exceed $16,000 and was grant eligible so it would be added to the total project cost
In accordance with CDBG guidelines, the city also approved a resolution declaring an imminent threat to public safety and authorizing emergency actions, limited to the demolition of Hardin Gym at the June 23, 2025 city council meeting.
According to previous reporting, Hardin Gym has been condemned by the city because of the rotting walls and crumbling ceiling where daylight can be seen coming through.
The terms of the CDBG funding does afford owners the opportunity to reject the lowest bid on a project if there are concerns and the Presser Arts Center board agreed with the city’s recommendation
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