BUTLER TWP — A financial dispute between Butler County and one of the contractors for renovations at Sunnyview Home won't delay the project, according to county officials.

Bill O'Donnell, chief county clerk, said after Thursday's Sunnyview board meeting that the $6 million renovation project can proceed without the bid being approved by the electrical contractor.

Fuellgraf Electric Co. of Butler wants to negotiate a higher price than the $617,950 awarded in May.

Paul Harmon, Fuellgraf's controller, said Thursday afternoon the county never notified the company it was awarded the electrical contract, and since the bids were opened in April, supply costs have risen.

Harmon said the county had 60 days, which ended in June, to send the notification letter.

While county officials admit they did not send a written notice to the company, they insist it is not legally required to do so. They stress the only time limit they had was the 60-day time frame from bid openings to awarding the contracts

Harmon said Fuellgraf does not want to be adversarial with the county, but it just wants to discuss adjusting the price.

"We were just trying to sit down, nice and quiet," he said.

However, the county does not agree an amended contract is an option. O'Donnell said the county is prohibited from discussing changing the price of an awarded contract.

Bruno Muscatello, special legal counsel for the county, advised the Sunnyview board to enforce the contract as awarded.

The county cannot pursue any legal actions until mid-July, 60 days after contracts were awarded.

Harmon said the company is looking at its options.

The county could throw out the electrical bids and re-bid the work. Harmon said rebidding would cost the county even more money.

He said the company would prefer an amicable resolution.

"We want to do the job," he said.

The county has no problems with the project's three other primary contractors, which cover general construction; plumbing, and heating and air conditioning.