With bids in hand, the brain trust behind the proposed Columbus soccer complex and park is searching for ways to keep the project intact.
The low bid of $4.6 million, from Ellis Construction, came in Monday right where Neel-Schaffer Engineers expected, well above the estimated $2.9 million budgeted by the county.
Lead engineer Kevin Stafford expected the high cost after the project ballooned from a simple six-field soccer park to a sprawling 10-field spread including grassy lawns between fields all connected by sidewalks and even bridges over wetland areas.
The changes have met with overwhelmingly positive feedback, but aren”t cheap.
One $200,000 concession stand became three. A $100,000 pavilion was added. Plans to plant grass were altered to laying sod to play soccer in September at a cost of $150,000. Lighting for four additional fields added $140,000. Lighting for roadside parking had to be factored in after plans for centralized parking were scrapped, which also added a mile-and-a-half of curbs and gutters to be built. Using ornate lights rather than mounting lights on telephone poles tacked on $250,000. The cost for landscaping went up $200,000.
However, Stafford says that at every turn, representatives from the county and city and citizens requested the project not be cheapened.
“At all the public hearings we”ve had, people said ”I”ll be glad to see this happen but don”t cheapen the project. Make it happen how it is,”” said Stafford Thursday. “I remember the first meeting (former Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority board of directors member) Leon Ellis made the comment that Columbus always had a habit of its eyes being bigger than its stomach. He said this is at the doorstep of downtown. If we can”t afford it all now let”s just back up and do what we can afford.”
And it may come to that. Stafford says the county”s $2.9 million is ample money to construct half of the park as it is currently planned, and the second half can be constructed at a later date.
District 1 Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders says the county actually has $3.2 million available after paying Neel-Schaffer”s engineering fees and buying the land at Burns Bottom, and has more money in reserve the board of supervisors has not yet voted to tap into.
Furthermore, Sanders expects the county will save “a couple hundred thousand dollars” by delaying a $7.75 million bond intended for road repairs until July and receive a lower-than-projected interest rate when the bond goes through.
“We”re going to come in with money. It”s just going to be a little more difficult,” said Sanders. “We had a contingency built in for some higher estimates, so I feel like we”re going to have the money.”
The possibility of involving the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau has also been discussed.
County Administrator Ralph Billingsley agreed the purpose of the soccer complex “fits the mission” of the CVB.
“My oldest son was involved in soccer for a number of years and we went all over North Mississippi for tournaments. Staying in motels, eating in restaurants. I can see what the magnitude of soccer can do for a community,” he said.
The CVB has yet to be approached regarding the soccer complex, but Director James Tsismanakis says city and county officials likely know better than to ask. The CVB”s budget, he says, is already tied up with building a new headquarters and recent renovations to the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center.
The CVB is also on the hook for $133,000 to help the city and county renovate the old Highway 82 bridge into a walking bridge.
Tsismanakis says CVB funding for tourism projects is generally spent for marketing and advertising, rather than investment in static projects. In the case of the bridge project, the CVB was pressured to take on one-third of the expense.
On the city side, City Administrator David Armstrong said Columbus” money is tied up in road projects but the city will offer whatever assistance it can through in-kind services.
The city and the county have both agreed to handle demolition of any buildings which have been purchased to make way for the soccer complex, which will save over $100,000. They”ll also split grubbing and clearing duties.
Lighting was originally included in bids from general contractors, but Columbus Light and Water has been asked to handle the lights. Sanders said fiberglass light posts will replace plans for concrete light posts at a significant cost reduction.
Neel-Schaffer is also stepping up, handling some of the surveying work in-house.
A planned irrigation system was removed from the plan and landscaping has been put on hold for the time being. Water and sewer pipes running under the park were scheduled to be rerouted but will now be left alone.
The contract originally called for limestone gravel to be used during construction because it”s less messy than clay gravel. Limestone is also twice as expensive, so now the plan is to suffer the mess and save the cost.
With those costs removed from the contract, the plan is to rebid the project one discipline at a time. Rather than have one general contractor subcontract the electrical, civil, plumbing, construction, etc., each company will receive a separate contract.
Stafford admits separate contracts will be “a lot more headache,” but should bring many more contractors to the table, which will result in lower bids. It will also eliminate the 5 percent overhead costs a general contractor adds to each phase of a project at an estimated savings of $200,000.
Stafford expects the next round of bids will still come in above the available $2.9 million, but more leeway exists if the city and county can”t secure more funds.
Portable toilets can be used in lieu of permanent air conditioned restrooms until money is found to construct the buildings. New roads may remain unpaved for a time. But everything remains up in the air until new bids are received in January.
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