The city plans to enter into contracts with water parks for water parks

City commissioners will review contracts related to the splash pad at Electric City Water Park at their June 18 meeting.

The city is converting the water park’s existing splash pad into a splash pad.

The project was proposed in 2022 and commissioners approved $200,000 in federal community development block grants in July 2022.

In 2022, Parks and Recreation staff said the baby pool had several mechanical and operational deficiencies and due to the depth of the pool it needed to be staffed with a lifeguard.

Electric City Water Park, neighborhood water games open June 7; the neighborhood swimming pools open on June 17

Converting the pool to a splash pad will eliminate mechanical and operational deficiencies and the need for a lifeguard, saving approximately $10,000 per season, Park and Rec staff said in 2022.

City staff have worked over the past two years to obtain quotes and a satisfactory plan for the project.

There were contractual issues with the project, so city staff split demolition, equipment procurement and installation/construction into separate contracts.

A new aquatic facility is expected to open at the end of June; city ​​changes budget and holds frog slide naming contest

At the May 7 meeting, commissioners awarded contracts for demolition and supply of equipment.

Demolition began on May 15, and staff then decided not to use the existing gate and drive on the existing sidewalks, as originally planned, so United could bring in material and new dirt.

Instead, the project team plans to remove a section of the fence near the splash pad and access the site from River Drive.

“This required United to repair the fence and add topsoil and grass seed to the grassy area they had to pass over. This change order covers these additional costs,” according to the staff report.

City adjusts contracts for water park splash pad

Staff recommends that commissioners approve the change order for an additional $2,500, increasing the total contract amount from $28,650 to $31,150.

Staff put out a request for bids for the facility in May and received two bids, one for $385,480 from USA Construction of Georgia and $143,750 from Smith River Construction of Great Falls.

City staff is recommending approval of the Smith River proposal with the intention of beginning construction soon, so that “ideally the splash pad will be operational for at least part of the season,” according to the staff report.

City approves contract for water park splash pad

Smith River’s proposal is the lowest, but it pushes the project total beyond the $200,000 originally included in the CDBG funding agreement, primarily due to inflationary factors such as increases for contract work, according to staff.

The decision on paddling pools is delayed (2023)

To account for the overrun, staff is asking commissioners to approve an amendment to the CDBG agreement to increase the total project cost by $68,809.50 for a new total of $268,809.50 for the project. conversion of baby pool into paddling pool.

City requests CDBG funds to convert baby pool into splash pad at water park (2022)

City staff identified the project for CDBG funds because the facility serves the general population and is located in a low-to-moderate income area.

Staff recommends approval of the CDBG adjustment and contracts to help the city achieve its annual CDBG action plan and return to compliance with its deadline requirements.