Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Aquatics center work a little behind

Aquatics center work a little behind

Nov 22, 2008 - 04:06:11 CST

By LEANN ECKROTH
Bismarck Tribune

Work on a 50,000-square-foot aquatics center on the grounds of the Bismarck State College campus will proceed through the winter months.

"Site work began in September. We are working on the foundation. We had to do a redesign of the foundation because of the soil type there," Dennis Kemmesat, president of the Streamline Foundation, said on Friday afternoon.

"The pier systems are poured. Work on the foundation is going on now. We'll start pouring on those next week," he said.

Its next phase will be erecting the steel structure and a precast concrete wall. "Once that is enclosed, we can start construction of the pool," Kemmesat said.

He said the expansive, corrosive clay on the BSC campus did not fit with the original foundation plans. "We had to install a pier system with a deep foundation," he said.

The Streamline Foundation holds a nonprofit 501(c)3 status to complete Bismarck recreation-related projects. It is financing the project. The Bismarck Park District will shoulder operating costs when the structure is completed.

The Burleigh County Commission recently issued $5.5 million in Municipal Industrial Development Act revenue bonds for the project on behalf of Streamline, but the county itself will not provide funding for the swimming pool facility. Streamline met MIDA financing criteria.

Kemmesat said the redesign of the foundation increased the project's cost by $400,000, from $8.7 million to $9.2 million.

Streamline will request $4 million more in MIDA bonds in 2009.

The county has a cap of issuing $10 million in MIDA bonds per year, and some of the money was already committed for the year. The agreement with the county states that Streamline may obtain up to $9.5 million in MIDA bonds to fund the project.

Creative Construction of Bismarck is the project's main contractor. The Bismarck Park District has partnered in the facility by providing excavation work there.

Kemmesat said the work is behind by at least three weeks because of challenges the crews experienced in leveling and digging the hillside property.

The park district also received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Forestery Service (dispersed through the North Dakota Forestry Service) to install and implement a biomass heating device for the building. It will burn some 2,000 tons of excess wood chips from the Bismarck landfill.

"It will heat the pool, the hot water and domestic water," said Bismarck Parks and Recreation Director Steve Neu.

BSC's assisstance in the project consists of providing the property on which it is being constructed and student fees to assist with operation costs.

The structure will feature an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a diving area, a lesson pool area and a 4,000-foot aerobics area. It will be used for recreational purposes for the community and students at BSC.

Kemmesat could not give a timeline for when the building will be enclosed, but said the entire project is slated for completion in the fall of 2009.

Kemmesat estimated that about one-fifth of the needed funds to pay off the bonds have been pledged by private individuals, businesses and organizations.

He said a large-scale fundraising campaign is pending in 2009.

Kemmesat said it is hoped the campaign will cover Phase II of the project, which is gym space for the facility.

Neu said staffing for the facility has been budgeted for fiscal year 2009. The hiring process will begin in the coming months before the facility is completed.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth.) @bismarcktribune.com

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Comments

Online editor wrote on Dec 1, 2008 6:47 AM:

" To Cruddy Construction: We do not control what is on the top commented list. It is controlled by the number of active comments posted in the past seven days. The process isn't perfect, but it is automated and controlled by our corporate parent. "

Cruddy Construction wrote on Nov 30, 2008 5:32 PM:

" Tribune - why does this show up for one day on the most commented list and then disappear? It's a HUGE deal and involves lots of money - put it back on please. "

Enough is Enough wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:52 AM:

" Sure haven't heard much from the city or park board about this! Who are they representing? Unfortunately, the answer to that appears to be clear and it's not the citizens of Bismarck. "

Think wrote on Nov 25, 2008 6:21 PM:

" $400,000 for piers and void material under the footings is rather steep in price, I guess if I were the contractor i would charge the tax payers through the nose, I think all over runs should be peer reviewed before approved by parks. "

Upstanding Citizen wrote on Nov 25, 2008 11:47 AM:

" What a joke - Park Commissioners - are you holding this group accountable? Are you looking out for the taxpayers? Who do you work for? Can the commisioners be sued for this ridiculous process? Who will pay for the overun of this project - will you silently pass this on to the taxpayers? This project will come in overbudget guaranteed. who is going to pay for all the non budgeted items and equipment? Will that just be passed through the Park budget too or maybe loaned to Streamline? This is the most underhanded corrupt process I've ever seen and I'm not just being 'negative' as one poster has declared but wanting accountability, transparency, taxpayer protection and ethical conduct.
Now that this project is passed, can everything else associated with this project be run under the radar and passed on to the taxpayer?
P and R Commissioners - have some guts and do what is right. "

Cruddy Construction wrote on Nov 23, 2008 6:16 PM:

" People should be aware that Creative Construction was previously Blue Star Construction. Did Streamline do an background check before hiring them? Or is this an "inside" hire job using taxpayers money? Have they posted a performance bond? I hope so.

This is a valid question and it needs to be posted. "

To All Backseat Contractors wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:22 PM:

" Yes, let's ask Swensen & Hagen where the expansive clays are and while we are at it, let's give them a y-shaped stick and see if they can find where water is so that we can dig a well. We can use it to fill the pool. They would be the first to tell you that they cannot predict soil conditions from one building to another because the soil profile is constantly changing & they need soil borings at each site. Bladerunner, you are giving them too much credit & taking too much credit for yourself. Stick to what you know...(i.e. something else). "

Tommy wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:14 PM:

" Soils test for that size project would maybe be $9000 to $11,000

well worth it "

bladerunner wrote on Nov 22, 2008 8:07 PM:

" I wish the best for the center. Exspansive clay at BSC. Every contractor in town knows it's there. $400,000 for what all ready know? Ask Swenson & Haugen, they been Engineers for this property for years. I hope this goes down good. Not a good start. "

dont worry be happy wrote on Nov 22, 2008 5:37 PM:

" don't worry about leaks and expansive clay we the taxpayer will pay to maintain this pool after it's built, and the principal and the interest and operations and Christmas bonuses for all contractors. Heads should roll over this - only one commissioner spoke up about the mess here. "

Cruddy Construction wrote on Nov 22, 2008 4:30 PM:

" Jeez - you bring up good points - the park board needs to answer your questions - you really need to attend a meeting and pose them.

How was this contractor chosen? This is going to be a big mistake once this is finished. The work will be substandard. It's a well known fact in Bismarck that this company isn't even close to being able to handle a project like this. Wonder how many lawsuits we'll be seeing. "

gus wrote on Nov 22, 2008 4:19 PM:

" lade runner, I agree with every thing you said. Except that the taxpayers didnt have a say on this, (NO VOTE) they were thinking but not herd. "

bisman wrote on Nov 22, 2008 1:19 PM:

" Funny how anything gets done in Bismarck and Mandan. All these companies that want to bring good things to the towns and everyone is against them or even better then that, everyone knows better then everyone else that they will be unsuccesful!! Everyone is always so negative, but I bet if the facility turns out to be a huge success and I am sure all you negatives will apoligize for being wrong. How do you all expect this city to continue to grow and be successful by never building anything new. This facility will be grea for the community and especially BSC. Maybe yet this facility will be able to hold the High School State Swimming and Diving meets etc and help bring in more revenue to the local area and businesses or thats right none of you want this for our community! I say best of look for the facility and what it will bring to the community. "

Mitch wrote on Nov 22, 2008 12:16 PM:

" Relax guys, it will all work out and this will be a great project for Bismarck. "

Think wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:11 AM:

" Wow, expansive clay soils! I hope the pools inside the structure never have a leak. Of course pools never leak, do they?

You really can't expect that they would have soil tests done because of upfront costs, even though that would be part of the planning process of any project of this scale. "

JustMe wrote on Nov 22, 2008 9:41 AM:

" Wait a second, I don't remember voting for this project, parks and wreck has a lot of explaining to do.... "

Jeez wrote on Nov 22, 2008 8:56 AM:

" This project is a crock. Has Creative Construction completed a project of this magnitude? Why wasn't there a bid process? A lot of questions here that the "non-profit" organization hasn't answered. Can someone explain to me how a 501 (c)(3) can be involved in such a process without a profit? "

Fish wrote on Nov 22, 2008 8:50 AM:

" This will be a great addition to the Bismarck/Mandan community. Much needed in my opinion. Long winter months around here and the Y is always packed. As for cost over runs that sort of thing is not uncommon on large scale projects. "

tommy wrote on Nov 22, 2008 8:36 AM:

" They didn't have to do a soils analysis test prior to doing plans. I predicted this along time ago... should have hired a local company to do it. This will go over budget. Mark my words. "

bladerunner wrote on Nov 22, 2008 5:19 AM:

" They didn't know the soil conditions before construction started? Is there a Engineer on this project? Exspect more cost over runs on this ill concieved mess. The tax payers will want to rethink doing this again. Can you say "told you so" "

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