The cost of paying prevailing wage and the inability for another city department to assist with the project has put a temporary damper on the Trenton Park Department’s plan to construct a restroom facility at the Ebbe Sports Complex.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
The cost of paying prevailing wage and the inability for another city department to assist with the project has put a temporary damper on the Trenton Park Department’s plan to construct a restroom facility at the Ebbe Sports Complex.
The board met Wednesday night, discussing the project with Trenton City Administrator Kerry Sampson and Utility Director Chad Davis. The park department had requested that TMU employees help trench the lines needed to construct the facility, saving the park department that cost. Sampson said that the project would take about two days and that there is not enough manpower and time to provide the service to the park department. He noted that there could be something worked out whereby an individual who volunteered their time could use the backhoe to dig the trench, which would be about 176 feet long. Sampson said TMU doesn’t want to commit to something that ties employees and equipment up for “a week or so.” Park Superintendent Jason Shuler said he believes the trenching will take about half a day to complete.
Later in the meeting, Second Ward City Councilman Steve Perry, who serves as the liaison to the board, encouraged the park board to continue pursuing help from the city on this project, noting that the park department has many times provided labor to do projects that were not “park” projects, but were for other city departments.
In other disappointing news for the restroom project, board members were told by Sampson that they would have to pay prevailing wage for its construction. Board members had hoped that since the funds for the building were donated by the Ebbe Estate, the project might not fall under prevailing wage. Sampson said that since the funds are kept as part of city money, the projects completed with those funds are subject to prevailing wage laws. That would add about 30 percent to the projected cost, which was $48,100 and did not include the trenching, should the park department have to pay a private contractor to do the work.
“Unfortunately, that’s not what the board wanted to hear,” said Park Board President Steve Muff, who went on to say that there is not enough money in the fund at this point to pay for it. He also noted that the board has taken great pains to be sure that everything that is constructed in the park systems is of high quality and something that the public can be proud to have in the system. The board, he said, does not plan to skimp on this building, which was modeled after one at Simpson Park in Chillicothe.
It was suggested that perhaps the board should put the project out for bid and see what happens. No action was taken.
Dean Peyton, who has been working with the insurance company to settle claims from the May 2004 hail storm, told the board during the meeting that not all park department property was covered in the policy and that there was insufficient coverage to replace the Rock Barn roof. Peyton said the estimate to replace the roof was $98,000 and there was only $60,000 of coverage on the roof. He said other buildings in which cosmetics are not important could be slighted in favor of those that did not have enough coverage to complete the work. He is to meet with Shuler and Park Board member Chuck Lankheit to determine exactly how the work will proceed.
Peyton also discussed the memorial funds for his parents, the late Dean and Norma Peyton. It was decided that the funds, which total around $1,150, will be used to purchase a memorial bench to be placed in Eastside Park and trees to be located near the tennis courts at Eastside. There was some confusion over the cost of the benches, with Peyton being told they are $750 each. It was later determined that the actual published cost is $450.
Muff presented a check for $450 to the park department from the Trenton High School Class of 1980. He noted that some alumni had suggested that benches be placed around the new THS tennis courts, but board members said that is not park property.
Highlights of Shuler’s monthly report included work on the ballfields, which are now accommodating the Trenton High School softball team, the Trenton Middle School softball team and the North Central Missouri College men’s and women’s teams. Tom and Terry Walker of Quality General Construction were recognized for installing the coax cable for Grimes Field, donating the equipment and labor. Shuler said the pool is closed for the season and is being winterized. The Bloss Whitney shelter house has been moved to the Ebbe Sports Complex. The concrete addition to the upper Moberly concession stand has been completed. The roof will be replaced and a door and window will be installed.
In other business, the board directed Shuler to seek bids for repairs to the walking trail and Shuler reported that Trent Steinhoff completed a new greeter booth at the Rock Barn for his Eagle Scout project. It was noted that the NCMC baseball team will repaint the concession stand at Grimes Field, as there have been many complaints about the color. The construction of a skate park was discussed, with Frank Kinney noting that citizen Robert Williams has been working to get a 501 (c) (3) organization set up to collect funds for a skate facility.
An executive session was held to discuss real estate matters. Shuler said this morning that the board discussed the possibility of purchasing a tract of land, approximately three-quarters of an acre, from Dr. J.A. Keuhn. The land, which is located just south of the Tharp property now owned by the board on Oklahoma Avenue, is listed at $40,000. Shuler said that although the board would like to have the property, they would not purchase it at that price.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5.