Bids Accepted on Sadie Johnson Building and Softball Backstops Despite Budget Deficits
December 13th, 2011 by Mandy Moss
The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to accept the lowest bid to rebuild the Sadie Johnson Building during Thursday night’s meeting. The bid came in at $689,000.00. There will also be a 10% engineering fee added to the cost, bringing the total cost to rebuild to $757,900.00.
The funding currently available is $501,024.00, which leaves a deficit of -$256,876.00.
Lengthy discussions took place amongst the Commission members and the public in regards to how the loss of the building has greatly impacted the entire community, and the need for it to quickly be rebuilt. The Commission then voted to accept the lowest bid and ask the City Council to increase the budget to cover the cost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Commission also voted to purchase and install two new backstops at the practice softball fields located at the Sports Complex. The cost will be $30,000, and is above what was budgeted for the project. To cover the cost, the Commission voted to reallocate the money from the budget given to Ross Field (which was said to not be in use) to the softball fields.
This will still leave a $7,000 deficit. A motion was made to ask the City Council to approve $7,000 more for the budget. The motion carried, and both the reallocation of funds and the additional money requested will be presented to the Council.
The next City Council meeting is December 29.
Choose another article
Newer article: UAM’s Farmer Named GAC Player Of The Week
Older article: Parks and Recreation Commission Votes not to Accept Bids on Soccer Restrooms/Concession Stand
It is fair to state that JoAnn Trotter and the assigned committee out of which was selected from among the group of assigned citizens of the Sadie Johnson rebuilding project have not to this date be reconvened to to hear first from the committee and then approval by the group for submission to the Commission and council; although members of both the Park Commission and City Council are represented on the committee, but there is a grave concern that the actions taken and decisions made were of the interest of the committee members only of whom were entrusted. Perhaps this is an oversight of the many disturbed and concerned members of the community about the layout and design. the other concern was/is, why not a simple metal building from Smith Steel etc. and/or the administrations recommendations recommendation of a facility built at this point to turn key the 501,000 dollar plus available funds and get this facility built and as stated by the present City Administration, look at expansion possibilities in the future when practical.
The committee needs to convene prior to December 15th City Council meeting with the citizens to offset a point of order issue that could delay this process.
Bishop Sam Wherry
So, are these two expenditures awaiting Council approval or did the Commission enter into binding contractual agreements before securing adequate funding?
I don’t know who has the authority to do what, but as this article is written it appears that:
“The Commission then voted to accept the lowest bid and ask the City Council to increase the budget to cover the cost.”
Has the city been keeping an extra quarter million on hold for just this purpose?
How big is this building? How much a square foot. How did it grow into such an expensive building. Why do we need an engineer. Of course the building is going to cost exactly as much as they can get, since the engineer is going to get 10%. I really think we have people around here that could build that building and not cost anything such as this. Surely there are contractors around here that can go by an architect’s rendition of such a project. I believe that we just throw out figures on money such as a 30 million dollar convention center. I live in Monticello, where does our council live.
Let’s get real and fix our water system and sewer system instead of just spending money on any project that comes up. Yes, I am for the Sadie Johnson be built, but it is just like the splash pad. We had to have one bigger and better than any other town had, no matter what size town we had. So, we ended up with a half million dollar splash pad. And while you are considering the $30 million dollar convention center, you ought to check on the ones in other towns to see how much they are used. I have heard they get weeds around them and run down, much like our building in the industrial park????? The college should think about updating their dormitories and buildings they already have, such as their pool house. One student told me there is mold everywhere in there and the building is being used for storage and the storage items are growing a hefty amount of mold.
All of this should be checked out by the alumni and board, before you want people to donate more.
how many people use the splash pad they allend up at the park pool our town is not large enough for a center this large our streets are full now traffic backs up now how does the people of monticello think we can handle all the traffic if we had a center it cant . it takes forever to get on 425 from any street cars pile up from one light to another now think about it traffic is aproblem now we need other things more than a30 million center
” Chatted with an Architect Associate of mines in reference to a 6000 sq ft community center of similar specs of the Sadie Johnson Center of whom is licensed in Arkansas that the same facility can be constructed for 80 dollars a square ft(utilizing a Metal building with a Brick front facade at an estimated cost of 480,000 dollars, which is 20,000 below the budgeted amount. Shared this firm with MEDC and Mayor. This maybe the Blessing we need; in addition he has some great ideas/concepts for the Whaley property that is of the UofA feasibility recommendation and Fire Station at Ryburn site. Alternatives that should be investigated that in all probability is for the best interest and enhancement of Monticello. We all must be about for what is for the Best Interest of Monticello, not our special interest or ethnic interest. this is 2011 not 1965(The dawn of special interest outside of the Majority sector). “
I agree we have plenty of contractors in Monticello to do this job everybody says buy in Monticello spend your money here and then your money that is spent here goes to a contractor that is out of town that’s why the rich get richer and the poor get well you the rest