Greene commissioners discuss contracts, agreements at meeting
WAYNESBURG – During their agenda meeting Wednesday, Greene County commissioners reviewed the agenda for today’s regular meeting, an agenda that includes contracts, change orders and agreements for the new tennis courts, as well as for the new aquatics center and the Greene River Trail. Commissioners are expected to approve a contract with Wilbur Smith and Associates for the construction of the new tennis courts, which will replace the ones that were previously located outside Central Pool.
The old courts – and the 56-year-old public pool adjacent to the courts – were demolished at the end of August. The courts would be built on county-owned property on Rolling Meadows Road near the Greene County Historical Society and Museum.
Jake Blaker, director of the county department of recreation, said he met with Wilbur representatives for a pre-construction meeting and that “everything went well.” Construction on the new courts is expected to begin Monday, he said.
Last month, commissioners awarded a contract and made adjustments to the contract for the construction of the new courts. The contract was awarded to Vasco Sports Contractors of Massillon, Ohio, which submitted the apparent low bid of $420,834.
The total bid was initially supposed to cover the construction of three new courts as well as lights, walkways, a parking lot and new restroom/pavilion facilities.
After the contract was awarded on Sept. 8, county Chief Clerk Gene Lee explained that adjustments had to be made to the contract. Because the county decided to build the restroom/pavilion facilities with its own staff, a total of $116,084 that Vasco proposed would cost to build the facilities will be deducted from the contract.
Lee also said that two other adjustments needed to be made to the contract; the county added $14,515 to cover costs for paving the parking lot and $9,300 to cover costs for installing concrete walkways around the courts.
After the adjustments were made, Vasco was awarded the contract, which now stands at $328,565.
Earlier this year, the commissioners hired Wilbur Smith and Associates as the construction inspector for the new aquatics center, which is scheduled to open before Memorial Day 2007.
Commissioners also are expected today to authorize a change order totaling $5,073.57 for general construction of the new aquatics center. Snyder said the change order would be used to purchase additional dirt and gravel that is needed because the ground had become saturated by water from the old pool.
Masscon Inc. of Uniontown was awarded the contract in May for general construction of the new park.
The cost of the new aquatic center has been estimated at $3.3 million. Funding for the center is expected to primarily come from a combination of state and federal grants, as well as matching funds from the county. Thus far, the county has received $1.75 million in state and federal money, including funding from a federal recreational grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the office of U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Johnstown). The county is expected to draw down as much as $800,000 from this federal funding stream by the time construction of the new center is completed.
The county also has pledged to fund the balance of the project through its own bond issue.
In other news, commissioners are anticipated to authorize the payment of $100,418.84 for a change order for extra work and materials on the Greene River Trail.
Commissioner Dave Coder explained that the change order is necessary because of unforeseen drainage problems along the new portion of the 12-mile trail. The change order will be covered under the initial federal funding stream that the county received earlier this year. Funding totaling $500,000 was awarded to the county through a federal transportation bill that was handed down through the state.
A contract for the construction of the trail was awarded to Kurtyka Enterprises Inc. earlier this year. Construction on the new portion of the trail began last month, and Snyder said the county hopes the trail will be finished within a few weeks. Coder said roughly six miles of the overall trail have been completed thus far.
The Greene River Trail is built on an old railroad grade and runs from the Greene Cove Marina to the Crucible Mine site.