Julie Yates
Pryor City Council approved seeking bids on a new park department building in Tuesday’s council meeting.
The city will go out for two different bids on phase one of a 50 x 150 foot park facility.
The first bid will be pricing for steel and delivery. The second bid will cover the cost for a general contractor to put up the building.
The first building phase will make the building functional. Park Superintendent Frank Powell said phase one will include the slab, the erection of the building, installation of a sprinkler system and a restroom.
The building height will be 18 feet. Powell said a 14-foot door will be installed for moving equipment in and out. A minimum height of four feet is required above the door.
Engineering company DeShazo, Tang & Associates estimates the cost of phase one at approximately $200,000.
Mayor Jimmy Tramel said bids have been coming in 30 percent less than engineering estimations because
contractors are hungry for work. The city had originally hoped to build a $100,000 building.
Jared Crisp with DeShazo, Tang & Associates said $100,000 may be enough to purchase the building and erect it, but not enough to make it functional. Crisp’s concern is if the city has another tight year, the budget may not allow another $100,000 to furnish the building for use.
Powell’s hope is that bids will come in low, so the size of the building will not have to be scaled back to meet allowed cost.
Tramel said in order to get all the park equipment under one roof, the building cannot be smaller than 50 x 150 feet.
Councilman Drew Stott said he feels the city could get by with a building 50 x 100 feet. He said the park department could store everything but the backhoe.
Councilman Garry Harris asked Powell if he had looked into a smaller building that could be added onto. Powell said a facility 50 x 125 feet would only be $16,000 less.
“I say go out for bids and see what it’s gonna cost,” said Councilman Tony Smith. “If we’re gonna do it, do it right the first time.”
Powell said steel prices are relatively inexpensive right now and will go up if the city waits any longer to get started on the building process. Powell said the park department may set the concrete slab, but the rest of the building project will be contracted out.
Phase two of the park building is planned for the next fiscal year, July 2010-June 2011. Phase two would entail finishing the inside and adding offices.
