Council OKs Aquatic, Sports Complex Contracts

By John Gore

Posted: December 9, 2009 at 4:49 a.m.

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ROGERS — Aldermen approved a $1 million contract to design an aquatic center and a sports park Tuesday.

Crafton, Tull, Sparks & Associates were awarded a contract to design the projects.

Aldermen met as a committee of the whole prior to the council meeting to discuss why it is necessary spend money designing projects, the city doesn’t have the money build.

Mayor Steve Womack explained the city needs and the residents deserve a modern aquatic center to replace the pool at Lake Atalanta.

City leaders plan to pay for the improvement by asking residents to extent 1 percent sales tax approved in 2003.

If voters approve the extension in a special election in early 2011 new bonds will be issued to cover the cost of the two projects and continue with road construction and improvements.

“We need to start and complete the design phase so when we have the money we are shovel ready,” said Womack.

“We have been very transparent about our plans. Clearly our No. 1 goal, which has been no secret, is the building of a nice outdoor aquatic center,” Womack said.

In order for the aquatic center to become a reality, softball fields at Doc Wheeler Park have to be relocated to 60 acres the city owns on Hudson Road. The aquatic center would be built at Doc Wheeler. The Hudson Road location would become the sports park, according to preliminary plans.

Tom Hopper and David Swearinger, engineers with Crafton, Tull, Sparks & Associates, presented conceptual plans showing what the projects might look like.

Swearinger said it would take several months to prepare the plans and get the project to the point that once residents approve new bonds the contract could be awarded in about a month.

“By having the plans ready to go out for bids we think we could have the aquatic center open in early summer 2012. It should take about 12 months to build the center,” Swearinger said.

Womack said even if the voters don’t approve extending the sale tax the plans will remain viable and can be used when the city does have the money.

Several aldermen expressed a belief that voters will likely approve the bond extension.

Aldermen also approved another recreation expenditure, the purchase of a 5.15 acre and a 2.3 acre parcel for a trailhead near the Horsebarn Road trail.

The city agreed to pay $26,000 for the properties just off 52nd Street. A parking lot is scheduled to be built on one parcel. The trailhead, parking lot and restrooms will be built on the other parcel.

This was the last council meeting of the year. The Dec. 22 meeting has been canceled.

infotext: Mandatory

At A Glance

Rogers City Council

Officials On Tuesday Passed:

a $30,500 contract with Danny Robinson Construction LLC for section 7 of the Horsebarn Road trail.

the appropriation of $120,147 from general fund reserves to planning expense and transferring $50,000 to the planning expense account. The money will be used to pay for a completed master drainage plan.

an ordinance rezoning 618 W. Poplar St. from residential office to office zoning

an ordinance rezoning 401 W. Hudson from light industrial to commercial.

Source: Staff Report

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