Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Work on the senior citizens' center is more than $59,000 over budget and additional change orders could reach $25,000, the town council learned Tuesday.
Renovation of the community center building began this winter when Hoeppner Construction of Fort Wayne was selected as contractor in January. They discovered the floor was dissolving in dry rot, according to town coordinator Craig Allebach.
Allebach said at one time a layer of heavy plastic had been laid under carpeting, trapping moisture and forcing it into the floor joists.
Town resident Brent Wilcoxson said the crawl space was always accessible and asked why no one discovered the problem prior to bidding on the job.
Allebach said rebuilding the floor wasn't part of the specifications and the problems were noted after the work commenced.
The council approved $37,785 presented in four change orders, including $21,454 for a new foundation, bringing the total cost to $295,226 from an original bid of $236,800.
Councilman Craig Snow asked how much of the work was complete and Allebach said more than 50 percent. Allebach said the council could expect to see another order for at least $18,000 for work in the "great room" so the walls match.
Construction funding comes from a $200,000 Department of Commerce grant; a $12,000 Kosciusko County Community Foundation grant; and $50,000 in local funds.
Allebach said more local money would have to be allocated toward the project with a cap of $320,000.
Councilman David Delp asked why the floor wasn't included on the original bid.
Allebach said it wasn't necessarily an oversight on anyone's part. The bulk of the change orders have been directly related to completely replacing the rotting floor.
Council president Rolly Ortega offered the board's goals for 2002 asking members to give them one last look.
The tentative list of goals includes improvements to CR 250E, improved services, generating revenue, continuing partnerships with Winona Lake Restoration and Grace College, funding the Chestnut Street improvements and the Lake City Greenway, rehabilitating the senior citizens center, upgrading the code book, continuing to work with Warsaw on the wastewater treatment facility and installing street lights in the Stonehenge housing subdivison.
Ortega noted many of these items are already under way.
In his report, Allebach said the park activities director, Brigitta Modglin, is beginning to schedule events for the summer.
He said the sewer problem on Sixth Street is "100 percent our fault."
He said preliminary greenway drawings have been submitted with construction to begin in 2003.
When asked about the Ralph and Joellen Fitch property at 800 N. Park Ave., Allebach said the Fitches had "agreed to the take" and property accessors would be meeting in May.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a request by Wilcoxson that a portion of Auditorium Drive be closed during the Village At Winona art show, June 1 and 2.
• Awarded Niblock the bulk asphalt bid for street repairs with Phend and Brown.
• Heard about Winona events: May 11, 8:30 a.m. HealthFest 2002 Fun Run; May 11, 1 p.m. Warsaw Community High School jazz band performs in the Artisan Court; May 18, 9 a.m. Grace College graduation ceremonies; May 18 to 19, Winona Cup Sailboat Regatta on Winona Lake; May 18, 1 p.m., a performance by Jeff VanHouten in the Artisan Court; and May 25, 1 p.m., the Wawasee Select Choir performs in the Artisan Court.
Town council members are Rolly Ortega, Jeff Carroll, Craig Snow, Jerry Clevenger and David Delp.
The board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday at 7 a.m.
