Town progresses on Newton Park and BORC
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council approved to award a construction restoration for the Seven Seas building at Newton Park and provided a positive update on its undergoing Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Interlocal Agreement with Lee County as part of its agenda Monday.
Interim Town Manager Jack Green announced the award of the contract at Newton Park to low-bidder Maddox Construction of Bonita Springs in the amount of $206,272. The Town Council passed the motion unanimously for the award and to authorize staff to move forward with the project.
“The goal to substantial completion is 90 days with final completion in 120 (days),” said Newton Park Director Theresa Schober, who expects the job to be done by the end of 2008.
Regarding BORC, Green updated the Town Council on recent discussions with the County about the monetary and structural issues with the recreational center’s roof. These discussions happened after the two sides met downtown July 29 for negotiating talks about the upcoming transition period.
According to Green, the County offered $400,000 instead of a roof replacement and the $160,000 that the Town requested for capital reserve funds. His reply was to first conduct an investigation before signing off.
“The facilities management folks described the roof repair job to be about $65,000 and they thought that was the best way to go,” said Green. “It comes with a 10-year warranty. They explained to me the advantages of doing this is that the material the roof is constructed of is thick enough and that it wouldn’t need replacement for years and years if it was properly maintained. The bid contractor also recommended that if you fix all the spots on the roof, put the treatment on the roof and get a 10-year warranty, then he could do it again 10 years later. This could be a continual process as long as you maintain the roof.
“The other issue is the fact that the installation under the roof that cost a quarter of a million dollars back in 2006 would be lost if we had the roof replaced. We had never discussed that as an item. We actually have engaged a structural engineer to access this repair and the structural members that were identified in the inspection report. We hope before this week is out we’ll have some idea on this repair recommendation by the county and the contractor.”
Green said if the structural engineer confirms the contractor findings, it may be in the Town’s best interests to do this. He hopes to know more by next Monday’s meeting or shortly thereafter.
“If we were to go forward and do the $65,000 roof repair on the recreational center plus the $10,000 to repair the campus’ out buildings, that’s $75,000 and we’re still left with $325,000,” said Green. “That’s more than twice of what we asked for. But, again, that hinges on the roof repair.”
Terms of the Bay Oaks Interlocal Agreement would still require the County to give the Town $150,000 transitional operating funding; a transfer of ownership of the facility no later than Oct. 1, 2009; and provide two County staffers to assist the Town at no cost as necessary for the month of October.
Mayor Larry Kiker asked Green to see if the addition of a new roof on top of the existing roof was possible, while Vice Mayor Herb Acken and Councilman Tom Babcock expressed concern about not being ready for the transition.
“The answer is always the same,” said Councilperson Jo List. “If (the town) doesn’t keep it going after Oct. 1, it’s not going to be open. I agree with you that this is a lousy time, but since the Town’s incorporation, there has always been an intention to take it over.”
According to Kiker, Bay Oaks is the only community center that still exists with the County since all others have been turned over to the municipalities. The existing interlocal with County unofficially expired two years ago.
“I’m confident that we will have the people we need in place in time and that we probably will take some of that assistance from the County for the month of October,” said Green. “The County has indicated that they are not going to run this thing after this year. They don’t have the money and it’s not in their budget. Either you take it or we close it.”