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Council tweaks concession stand to bring cost down
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · May 25, 2017
The Cubby Park concession stand plans, until last week, looked like a single-story building with the middle cut out, allowing people to walk through or sit at picnic tables in the shade.
A small part of the roof jutted outward to provide a bit more shade.
But the City Council, at its May 15 meeting, cringed at the estimated cost of $275,000 to $300,000.
“I know it’s a lot,” Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Russell said.
The stand includes a kitchen, restrooms, storage space for a mower and other equipment, plus this pavilion offering shade.
Council member Brian Pierce agreed with Russell.
“That’s ridiculous,” he said. “That’s a lot of money for a concession stand.”
Russell said removing the pavilion would cut $50,000 to $60,000 from the estimate for the stand the city plans for the 18-acre park planned for Pedersen Valley.
The council considered bidding the project in pieces in hopes that local contractors might offer, collectively, a lower price. City attorney Kevin Olson said anything over $135,000 must be bid out.
Council member Colton Miller said a project this small is usually handled by one contractor.
Council member Mary Beth Stevenson suggested private fundraising, like selling paving stones inscribed with donors’ names, to cover some of the cost.
Council member Tim Shields wondered about using the concession stand as a shelter in bad weather. Stevenson said the city could apply for grant money to cover the cost of reinforcing the building. Mayor Roger Laughlin, himself a contractor, said the plans already call for using brick and block, so reinforcing the structure is not difficult.
Russell said “it does make me nervous” to give up seating.
She said she needed direction from the council as soon as possible to get the project started, and noted that the city originally estimated $300,000 to $350,000 for the building.
Laughlin said the city could reject any bids it deems too high.
“If it’s outrageous, tell them to do it over,” he said.
Miller suggested moving the two outward sections together, so they shared a mechanical system, putting the pavilion on the end.
Pierce agreed, saying he understands that the walk-through pavilion is “aesthetically pleasing.”
“People are going to look at this $300,000 concession stand and shake their head,” he said.
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