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Bidding to begin on senior center construction |
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Written by Andrew Powell
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Tuesday, 13 October 2009 |
Contractors will have the opportunity to bid on the construction of the new multi-generational center in the coming weeks.
The bids will be the last step in the process before construction on the facility can actually begin.
Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips said this week he recently met with state officials to sign all necessary documentation related to the appropriation of grant funding for the project. With the paperwork out of the way, the bidding process and construction, will soon follow he says.
“We are down to taking the final steps, in Frankfort and at the local level, in getting this project off paper and literally on the ground,” Judge Phillips said. Phillips believes once the bidding process is complete, construction could begin either near the end of this year or very early in 2010.
“We are finally to the point, with the hard work of the Education Foundation, Park Board, Fiscal Court and many others, where we can see the results of our efforts,” Phillips said. “This is something, of course, this administration had promised the seniors and youth of this county, and we are ever nearer to fulfilling that promise, but would have been unable to do were we without the benefit of the occupational tax.”
The tax funding, with its 20 percent annual allocation, has played a major role in moving the park project forward. To date, around $3 million in funding (including tax revenue, state and federal grants and private donations) has been invested in the project.
The multi-generational center, which will be focused around senior and youth programs, will come at a cost of $1 million. The park board has obtained a state grant in the amount of $500,000 and $500,000 in loaned funds to make that project possible.
Plans for the facility were revealed in August when architects with Taylor-Whitney presented the blueprints to park board members. The facility will boast around 8,000 square feet with inclusion of a basketball court, multi-purpose area, senior citizen’s activity area, meeting space, kitchen and offices. The building will be the first “brick and mortar” project to take shape at the 100-acre park site; a local development project that has been plagued with delays due to environmental issues.
Reportedly, environmental clearance has already been issued on construction of the multi-generational center.
Judge Phillips noted, that despite a delay in access earlier this year, the baseball fields should be seeded, fenced and ready for action by spring; the same time when substantial progress should be seen on the center.
“I know this has been a terribly long process, but we are now at the point where we will be able to see facilities at the park and use them,” Phillips said.
The project will be discussed further Tuesday during a Fiscal Court meeting, Judge Phillips said. At that time, the court must pass a resolution in support of the project and expenditure of funds.
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