Shawnee County left with spending budget and lavatory questions immediately after grant delay
A delayed grant has the Parks and Recreation Department asking yourself how to fund the Kossover restroom facility renovation immediately after months of waiting around.
A grant of more than $100,000 was intended to be awarded months back, but the federal federal government has delayed handing out the funding.
“It can be not just about anything that we are doing or anything at all we can management,” explained Tim Laurent, director of the Parks and Recreation section, at Monday’s Shawnee County Commission meeting. “We are in a tiny bit of a waiting around sport.”
Laurent reported commencing design in advance of being awarded grant dollars could make the division ineligible for the funds. He mentioned he is absolutely sure the revenue is readily available, even nevertheless a speaker at the meeting reported they don’t believe that the point out has any funds to give.
“Someone will be awarded this grant funds, we are hoping it is us,” Laurent stated. “It is a substantial sum of funds. We are chatting about in excess of a quarter of a million bucks on this job.”
Laurent stated he was scheduling on having the grant to support fund about 50 percent of the undertaking and has not established up the price range to fund the task with no the government’s assist.
“We are dedicated to this venture, but it is not the only project that we have on the horizon,” Laurent mentioned.
Commissioner Kevin Prepare dinner shared Laurent’s worry and explained the grant funds is a substantial sum to possibility losing. Cook claimed construction costs have previously risen because February.
Laurent stated the governing administration hopes the money will be awarded in January, but as the division waits more time to listen to back again, potential tennis tournaments may well not have adequate lavatory amenities.
“I am not as optimistic as Tim is,” explained Bob Keeshan, with the Topeka Tennis Affiliation.
Keeshan stated in April there were a handful of tennis tournaments that want design to be finished in any other case it will be complicated to host a event.
Portable bathrooms could be introduced in, but Keeshan mentioned female competition have complained about moveable restrooms in the past.
Keeshan mentioned some of the future tournaments were being competitively bid, this means the match could go away Shawnee County in the potential if athletes and attendants are not glad with the conditions of the facility. He mentioned development needs to commence happening shortly.
Commissioners voted 3- to allow for Laurent to start negotiating with Shirley Construction, or other firms, to see if work can be completed just before the tournaments. Laurent mentioned he isn’t sure how prolonged the building will acquire but said that need to be the very first dilemma he will inquire Shirley Design.
Keeshan claimed perform could be delayed until finally Feb. 1, assuming the function can be done in advance of competitive enjoy in April.
“I would like to go forward (with building) but I fully grasp you bought $130,000 probable,” Keeshan stated, “but it was possible in August, it was feasible in December, (and) it’s possible in January.”