Mentor City Council is set to decide whether to hand a $12.6 million construction contract to Infinity Construction Co. for the city’s new Fire Station No. 3 at the northeast corner of Johnnycake Ridge Road and Plaza Boulevard. If council signs off at Tuesday’s meeting, the project would move straight into construction on a roughly 14‑month schedule, with the station projected to open in 2027.
The bid comes on the heels of the city’s 2025 purchase of the 2.7‑acre site and the demolition of the former auto center that stood there. Council members are also weighing how to shift local dollars to cover the build, pulling from both the fire levy and the general fund to make the numbers work.
Bid details and selection
According to Cleveland.com, Infinity Construction submitted the low bid at $12.596 million, which is about $2.15 million under the architect’s $14.75 million estimate, and the company rose to the top of eight proposals. City paperwork in the council packet recommends Infinity based on its past work on public safety buildings and strong references. The same reporting notes that under the proposed schedule, the station could be open in 2027.
Where the site and plans stand
The city announced it purchased about 2.7 acres at the northeast corner of Johnnycake Ridge Road and Plaza Boulevard in 2025 and said demolition of the former Sears Auto Center has already begun, according to a news post from the City of Mentor. Because the parcel does not have direct access to Johnnycake Ridge, staff negotiated an easement with a neighboring property owner to create an emergency access route, and that easement agreement is included in the council packet.
What council will vote on
Council is expected to consider ordinances to move $5.7 million from the fire levy fund and advance $7.3 million from the general fund to cover construction and related costs, according to Cleveland.com. The meeting packet also includes a recommended $156,535 agreement with Quality Control Inspection Inc. for construction oversight services and notes that the easement was approved earlier this year in city documents. If the council approves the funding shifts and awards the contract, staff say site work could begin soon after the contract is signed.
Who Infinity is and why it won
The city’s recommendation points to Infinity’s track record on similar municipal projects, and the contractor is listed in industry project databases for municipal work, including a Mentor fire station project entry on ConstructConnect. City documents indicate officials see the low bid as an opportunity to keep the planned fire station program intact while trimming the overall cost, although council members can still press for details on contingencies and scope before they vote…