Local contractor gets Sinclair demolition bid

The Cedar Rapids City Council last night awarded local firm D.W. Zinser Co. of Walford the $7.725 million contract to demolish the flood-and-fire-damaged former Sinclair packing plant.

Zinser's bid was just $6,250 lower than the second lowest bid among 10 firms that bid on the contract.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay for the demolition.

One remaining question at the site is whether those interested in saving the plant's smokestack can muster the interest and funds to do so. Council members said they will need to have an answer soon.

City staff said Zinser likely would spend 60 to 90 days bringing down the central part of the plant before the city will need to make a decision about the smokestack. The stack is leaning and could collapse as workers move their demolition closer to it.

A consultant has estimated it would cost $420,425 to stabilize and refurbish the stack.