Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 4-5-17

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MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
April 5, 2017
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
I NEWS I 13
St. Peters gets closer to finalizing plans for bond issue improvements
By BRIAN FLINCHPAUGH
St. Peters officials are closer to finalizing
their plans for building and/or improving
several major swimming pool and golf
course facilities, but it may be some time
before they’re done.
The city’s Board of Aldermen reviewed
bids for two separate swimming pool projects
at its March 23 work session but made
no decision on awarding contracts.
The smaller of the two projects is a
proposed splash pad that would replace a
kiddie swimming pool at Laurel Park, 181
Driftwood Lane. The second is the city’s
proposed $3.5 million aquatic center to be
built on a former athletic field just south
and near the city’s Rec-Plex complex off
Mexico Road.
The splash pad at Laurel Park is in this
years’ budget. St. Peters voters approved a
$12 million no-tax increase bond issue last
August to pay for building the aquatic park,
along with a new $5.7 million St. Peters
Golf and Banquet Center at 200 Salt Lick
Road, just south of Interstate 70.
City Administrator Russ Batzel told
aldermen at their work session that he
wanted permission from the board to continue
to negotiate with bidders on both
swimming pool projects before aldermen
take action on awarding contracts. The
projects are being built as part of a “designbuild”
process that allows some negotiation,
he said.
Westport Pools, Inc. was the only, and
recommended, bidder for the Laurel Park
project and is considered the top bidder
among three for the aquatic center project.
The bid for the Laurel Park splash
pad was $192,825, which is slightly
higher than the city’s budgeted price for
the project.
Batzel suggested that the Laurel Park
project could come before the board at
its April 13 meeting. He suggested, however,
holding over the aquatic center bid
until May to allow information on the golf
course plans to be presented at the April
meeting.
“I think the board would want to view it
as a whole,” he said.
Westport was recommended from
among three bids on the aquatic center
although its bid was the second lowest.
Capri Pools & Aquatics submitted the low
bid of $3.59 million, followed by Westport
at $3.76 million and Arco Construction
Co. at $6.32 million. Batzel said city
staff felt Westport offered the best combination
of skilled staff, project approach
and experience.
Although some adjustments may take
place as part of the city’s talks with Westport
officials, plans call for an eight-lane,
24-yard competition pool; a 427-foot “lazy
river” that includes a long channel with a
current where swimmers can float using
inflatables; a splash pad; a one-meter
diving board; two deck slides and a beach.
The project also includes a shaded area,
party pavilion and bathhouse. Those features
had been recommended in an earlier
study by Westport.
Another consultant’s study of the golf
course recommended more space for storing
golf carts, new banquet facilities seating
350 people, expanded parking, more
kitchen improvements, covered space
for golf events, as well as a patio and
deck space. The present facility would be
demolished.
Batzel said the timeline for completing
the aquatic center is May 2018 with the
golf course improvements scheduled by
late fall 2018. He said an early priority is to
set up meetings with subdivision residents
near the aquatic center and to hold open
houses where the plans for the center and
golf course could be outlined.
At about the time voters approved the
bond issue last August, residents of Carrington
Place and Dardenne Estates subdivisions
questioned whether the city had
informed them properly about the impact of
new facilities on their nearby homes. Mayor
Len Pagano and aldermen faced, at times
angry, comments from residents who said
the improvements would hurt their property
values and questioned the need and location
of the bond issue improvements.