The start of the county board meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 started with adjustments to the agenda to accommodate the absence of two commissioners and the pending departure of another. Commissioner Sue Hakes was absent for a college commitment, Commissioner Jan Hall was ill and Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk needed to leave to attend the final session of the Blandin Foundation Community Leadership Program. Items needing a quorum for action were moved ahead and one of the first topics was use of remaining 1 percent recreation and infrastructure tax.
Community Center Director Diane Booth was on the agenda with a request to allocate the remaining 1 percent funds—$347,000 to the three projects that were outlined in 2010 to receive those funds. Booth said the projects were the warming house at the Cook County Community Center; the tennis courts between Cook County High School and the community center; and another ball field. Booth suggested allocating half, or $173,000 for tennis court reconstruction and half, another $173,000 to construct a new warming house/outdoor rec building. In her request, Booth said grants are being written to support both projects and suggested that any leftover 1 percent funds be allocated for a new ball field.
However, Booth said she had been contacted by Auditor Braidy Powers who had informed her that the $347,000 would not be available after all.
Contacted after the board meeting, Powers explained, “The $347,000 was an estimated balance based on ORB’s [ORB Management] last project payment status report dated March 27, 2014 where they showed an uncommitted balance of $297,426.56 and a balance of $50,000 committed for the warming house. So you add the estimated $297,426 and the $50,000 and arrive at about $347,000. We knew the 297,426 was not final as ORB is still managing the final punch list items, any warranty work, issues such as the hockey rink, energy credits etc. The project is not officially over until the warranty period ends in November.
“We knew there would be small adjustments but when I asked ORB to update the project status report and uncommitted funds, it turns out they had not included two major items—the county’s purchase of the portion of the school for $162,802.50 and builder’s risk insurance of $21,781.
“There were other small items that we expected but those were the major unexpected,” said Powers.
“In light of that information,” said Booth. “Both project won’t get done.”
“Not with 1 percent funds,” said Powers.
Booth asked if the remaining funds could at least be set aside for the projects.
Commissioner Garry Gamble asked about the status of the baseball field at the high school. He noted that the school had received a Twins grant for upgrading the field, but that the school needed additional funding. He asked Booth if that field was the county—or the school’s responsibility.
Booth said the school field was an existing ball field, so work on it would be considered maintenance. She said since it is owned by the school, it is the school’s responsibility. She said the purpose of the ball field request was to move the ball field from the Grand Marais Rec Park to the community center grounds. “The 1 percent funding should go to the projects that are unfunded as of yet,” Booth said.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson said he was pleased to hear that there was a plan for dividing the remaining funds, but noted that the county had received a quote of $7,900 to fix the drainage issues in the locker rooms at the Cook County Community YMCA. Martinson said he would support earmarking the reserve 1 percent funds for the two projects, minus $7,900.
There was significant discussion of how much money should be held to pay for the locker room drainage issue and other potential problems. Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk finally noted that the end of the construction season was nearing and made a motion to hold $75,000 for the warming house and tennis courts.
Commissioner Gamble expressed frustration about the “uncertainty of these dollars.” He said, “If we learn anything from negative experiences, it is that it is our responsibility, that what is said and what is promised is iron clad.”
Gamble said he wouldn’t support the motion to hold $75,000 for the projects. He said he would like to reserve the entire amount, minus the $7,900 for the locker rooms. He said, “If something else surfaces, we need to wrestle with who is responsible to pay for things,” said Gamble.
Auditor Powers said the county has until November to declare any problems under the warranty. He recommended waiting a week before making a final decision. He said ORB Management was rectifying numbers and that information should be available in a week.
Commissioner Doo-Kirk tabled her motion to wait for those numbers and Booth said, “Truthfully, I’m going to be scrambling to get grants, so the sooner we get that hard number, the better. I need to know if matching funding is available.”
Commissioner Gamble said, “We know the amount of money is less, but you’ve heard the intent of the board. It looks like we’ll split the remaining money 50/50 between those two entities.”
Approval for skate park improvements
Booth also requested authorization to use up to $10,000 of the funds privately raised for the North Shore Skate Park to purchase a ramp and quarter pipe to finish the skateboard park. Booth said the cost of the improvements are estimated to be $9,387.55. She said the funding has been in a county account for a number of years. The skate park was built in 2007-2008 and the final installation was on hold until it was known for sure the skate park would not be moved. She said it seemed like a good time to finish the skate park.
Booth said the youths who use the skate park looked at the plan and they like it. The company that originally designed the park designed the new additions. Commissioner Doo-Kirk made a motion to approve the expenditure and the motion carried.
“Awesome,” said Booth. “The kids will be very pleased.”
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