OTTUMWA — City Clerk Ann Cullinan opened the four envelopes at 2 p.m. Friday and read the names, but the winner isn’t known yet.

Friday was the day for opening the bids received for the Bridge View Center’s marquee sign project.

Cullinan said it’s her sworn duty as the clerk to open the envelopes and pass the packet to the department head and/or staff members who sent out the bids.

BV General Manager Jon Elbaum said he will review all the proposals, which “have to meet the specifications.

“The lowest bid may not be the best one,” he added.

Local bidders have a small edge against the out-of-towners. Elbaum said there’s a 1 percent preference for a local company.

Elbaum sent out five packets and the city received four responses.

The first one was from Sherwood Company of West Burlington with a bid of $70,324.

Elbaum said the bid “seems low” and he’ll look at that proposal closely. There are different companies and each one, depending on the LED (Light emitting diodes) seller, doesn’t make the signs the same way.

The next bid Cullinan opened was from Cobler Sign and Graphic Company of Ottumwa. Cobler’s bid was $89,000.

“We’ll check to see what they’ve provided and if they’ve included all the work we’ve specified, such as training and certification by the UL laboratories,” Elbaum said.

Cullinan said there were no supporting documents with the bid.

Elbaum said many bidders will send additional information about the list of specifications and/or shop drawings.

Chestnut Signs of Des Moines sent a bid of $82,546.06. Elbaum said he talked “to that guy” but he doesn’t know him.

“Some bidders will submit a list of work done in the past,” Elbaum said.