Imlay City Community Center begins to take shape

Imlay DPW able to save thousands by doing work

 

IMLAY CITY — It was almost shocking for some city officials to see a projected cost estimate for constructing a new parking lot for the Community Center on E. Third St.

An engineering proposal from one company estimated total costs coming in around $600,000.

Plans called for a limestone base and major improvements including storm sewers, structures and drainage improvements totaling $75,000.

Another $85,000 was projected for a retaining wall that was designed to help with the natural fall of the property. The engineering firm estimated $129,000 in paving costs, nearly $38,000 in design and engineering costs and a contingency amount of almost $60,000.

Imlay City Department of Public Works Supervisor Ed Priehs told a group of city leaders at a January 14 meeting, he felt his staff could do the project for considerably less, without the paving portion.

“We took a look at it and came up with a much smaller number,” Priehs told the group. “It doesn’t include paving, but it would be a functional parking lot with limestone and create a good base for, if the day ever came, where pavement was put down.”

Priehs was able to reduce the overall cost of the project to just over $68,000.

“We’d use more limestone obviously and would be able to reduce the cost of the retaining wall down to $15,000 instead of the estimated $85,000.

According to the presentation by Priehs, there would be limestone costs of around $27,000, $15,000 for a retaining wall, $8,000 for sand and about $7,500 for a new sidewalk. His total came to $68,333.

Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Charles Bennett was thrilled with the news and said he is already working on grants to help cover the costs.

“I’ve been checking in to what grants might be out there to help us finance this, so it is less of a burden on the city and DDA,” Bennett stated. “It’d be great to have a parking lot to get us going and then we can see about possibly paving it, if we are able to secure grants or private donations.”

The building hosted it’s first event, even though it was not completely finished. this past Christmas season, the Kringle Market was held inside with several vendors who were
excited with the new space.