Officials cite favorable pricing for recommended work
By Jason Arndt
Editor
The City of Burlington’s only basketball court, located at Wehmhoff Jucker Park, will undergo a major reconstruction project under a change order the Common Council endorsed on Tuesday.
The change order with Asphalt Contractors, of Union Grove, calls for an increase of $39,645 to the original contracted amount of $1,322,922 endorsed by the Common Council earlier this year for the city’s street and utility program.
Angela Hansen, assistant to the director of public works, said in a May 21 committee of the whole meeting that the proposal includes removal of existing asphalt full depth, placing fabric or geogrid if needed, and installing a hot mix surface asphalt with a minimum 3-inch depth, among a series of other components.
City officials have long sought the improvements, considering the playing surface is cracked and heaved, and decided to move forward with the plan because of favorable pricing from Asphalt Contractors.
She said the replacement is going to provide a good area for safe recreation and “also provides an opportunity to take advantage of some favorable pricing.”
Hansen noted the basketball court project at Wehmhoff Jucker Park received approval in the 2022 budget and funding was secured through general obligation bond borrowing.
City officials, who recommended approval of the change order, said several plans endorsed by a number of entities called for improving the basketball courts at Wehmhoff Jucker Park.
The Park Board as well as the Common Council endorsed the concept for the project as part of the 2015 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, the 2023-28 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, and the Capital Improvement Plan.
Paths, trails approved
In a separate change order, the Common Council on Tuesday approved an increase of $24,352 in the sidewalk program, which would allow better accessibility near McCanna Parkway.
Asphalt Contractors, which originally awarded a $49,395 contract as part of the sidewalk replacement program, also delivered favorable pricing for the improved accessibility.
“These paths will allow connection to the bike trail on McCanna Parkway (and) State Street,” Hansen wrote in a May 21 memorandum to the Common Council. “Additionally, they will provide ADA-accessible connectivity to the parking lot, playground and restrooms. These paths will improve the accessibility of the park and connect it to the city’s existing bike trail.”
Including the change order, the total cost of the sidewalk program would jump to $73,474.
However, like the Wehmhoff Jucker Park proposal, the city had already approved the project in the 2022 budget and obtained funds through borrowing.
The McCanna Parkway upgrades were also included in concept plans endorsed by the Park Board and Common Council.
-
-
-
-
-