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POINT PLEASANT — The Mason County Commission has received six bids for exterior work on the old Point Pleasant Hardware building.

The bids are now being reviewed, with the commission scheduling a special meeting at 3:45 p.m., Nov. 1 to award the job.

The bids were discussed at this week’s commission meeting with the following companies and their bids submitted for consideration: Shamblin Construction, $217,700; MIRC Construction, $493,200; Allegheny Restoration, $216,00; Mariani and Richards, $135,000; Keystone Waterproofing, $151,197; Trisco Systems, $102,092.

These bids are for exterior maintenance work only. This work will include the removal and replacement of brick above the building’s windows on the side which faces the Iron Gate Grill. In addition, mortar joints will be repaired on the front of the building and the side of the building which faces the State Theater. The building will also need pressure washed so the new and existing brick will resemble one another more closely.

Bids have not been advertised for the interior work which will transform at least the first floor of the building into the new home of the Mason County Sheriff’s Department.

Also at this week’s meeting, Mason County Clerk Diana Cromley announced the first day of early voting set a record, with around 360 ballots cast. The most ballots ever cast during early voting was around 150. Cromley also announced there would be a pre-election test of the voting equipment at 4 p.m., Nov. 1 in the voting room. There is also a test which is ran on election day just prior to counting the ballots.

County Administrator John Gerlach reported the phone line and electrical work for the new ATM machine in the courthouse has been completed — installing the security camera still needs to be done. Ohio Valley Bank was the only bank which responded to the county’s request for bids to place the machine on the second floor just outside the tax office.

Gerlach recently returned from training regarding county credit cards, saying he suggested the county go to fleet cards to track fuel purchases.

The commission reappointed Dr. Michael Corbin, Elaine Hunt and Kevin Durst to the board of the Mason County Ambulance Authority.

Heather Crum also addressed the commission about placing a display in the courthouse for Diabetes Awareness Month in November. The display will include an opportunity for people to sign up for a free glucose meter. She and her mother Marketta also reported all local Bob Evans Restaurants will donate 15 percent of their sales on Nov. 14 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Nov. 14 is National Diabetes Awareness Day. The two women will travel to Clarksburg this weekend, representing Mason County at a symposium on diabetes research.

Commissioners Miles Epling, Rick Handley and Bob Baird were present for this week’s meeting.