The Mercer County Housing Authority board moved to accept the lowest bids Wednesday for exterior modernization work at Sharpsville Gardens.

The lowest bid for general construction went to Linton Industries in New Castle, at $1,244,000. The lowest for electrical work went to Penn-Ohio Electric, Masury at $187,000.

General construction includes improvements to the administration building, replacement of rear storm and front entry doors and improving the parking lot. Electrical work includes the addition of walk lights, overhead utility services and lights in the parking lot.

Executive Director L. Dewitt Boosel said several items were removed from the original concept to reduce costs, but the project still came in $212,703 over budget. "We've wrestled with the amount," he said.

With Sharpsville Gardens in a high profile area, the authority wanted to avoid taking out too much of the original plans so not to ruin the structure, Boosel said.

The authority plans to pay for the additional costs for Sharpsville Gardens out of October's allocation, which is reserved for to be used in next year's modernization of Fay Terrace, Pymatuning Township.

The authority is taking from an anticipated allocation and won't know until Oct. 1 how much they are getting, Boosel said. Based on past experinces, he said the amount usually bounces between $1.5 million and $1.4 million and should be around the same.

Other housing improvements currently in the works include:

   » Major changes in the exterior of Valley View, Mercer slated for completion June 9.

   » Placement of shutters at Pine Hollow Village, Sharon, the last of new siding work.

   » Paving at A.W. McDowell Manor, Sharon, and Herbert Garster Homes, Farrell, which begins in June.

   » Installation of a new security phone system at George Vermeire Manor, Sharon, should be operational next week.

   » Replacement of heating and cooling elements at Ira B. Lavigne Manor, Farrell, are 75 percent complete.