Published: May 14, 2008 01:59 pm            

Golf clubhouse to cost $2.3 million

Newly elected council members sworn in

By Matt Smith

msmith@trcle.com



Council members approved funding the clubhouse for the Cleburne Golf Course on Tuesday at a price of $2,333,788.

The price includes $1,802,225 for the structure and $531,563 for additional items, such as furnishings, office equipment, kitchen equipment, landscaping, irrigation, entryway construction, signage and other items.

The money will come from Fund 21, the account holding revenues from gas wells on city-owned land.

The $1.8 million clubhouse structure cost received unanimous council approval. Mayor Ted Reynolds opposed the cost of the additional amenities.

“Dishes and kitchen equipment are going to cost $500,000?” Reynolds said. “That’s more than our original estimate for the building.”

Council members had previously considered a modular building with an estimated cost of about $350,000.

The council also approved an additional $384,859.89 payable to Landscapes Unlimited for construction services on renovation of the golf course. Landscape Unlimited’s initial contract totaled about $2.5 million.

Inflation and weather delays caused the increase, said Max Robertson, director of parks and recreation. Record rainfall last year delayed construction by more than two months, Robertson said. Workers’ inability to plant grass because of weather delayed the course’s opening by more than a year, he said.

Reynolds questioned whether the city's contract with Landscape Unlimited allowed for additional labor charges. He argued that the contract allowed only for rising material costs.

The council rejected Reynold’s request to put the vote on hold for two weeks to study the breakdown of costs making up the increase.

“You’ve had this agenda since Friday,” Councilman Bob Force said. “Why didn’t you contact the staff before coming here?”

Robertson advised council members to lock in a guaranteed price on the project because of recent rising costs.

“This will be a very fine facility,” Robertson said. “Top notch but not extravagant. But this is also a moving target that will be stabilized with council approval of this agenda item.”

The guaranteed price would stick, Robertson said, unless change orders, which the council must approve, arise. Robertson answered a question from Councilman Kyle Boles by saying he believed the clubhouse would last 25 years or more.

City Secretary Shelly Doty administered the oath of office to the three newly elected council members from Saturday’s election. Mayor Ted Reynolds and Councilman John Warren both won their re-election bids. Councilman Robert Kelly attended his first meeting as a councilman.

“I’m proud to be part of this council,” Kelly said. “I can tell everyone here gives due diligence to their responsibility.”

Kelly replaces former Councilman Sonny Russell, who chose not to seek re-election.

In other news, the council:

zx Approved the Cleburne 4B Economic Development Corporation’s request to spend $373,610 to repair dams in Buffalo Creek at Hulen Park.

zx Approved a $29,890 change order to WMH Construction’s contract to improve Trinity Street. WMH discovered that existing utilities under the street would have to be lowered to allow for street and drainage improvements, said Russell Schreiber, public works director. The change brings WMH’s total contract fee to $319,679.

zx Approved installation of stop signs at Rose and Buffalo streets and Rose and Meadows streets.

zx Appointed Vance Castles to the zoning board of adjustment.

        

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