City rejects lone aquatic center bid

Clarendon’s proposed water recreation facility will go back through the bidding process after the first and only bid came in last week at more than $1 million above the funds available for the project.

Plains Builders submitted the bid of $3.162 million, and the City Council rejected that bid during its regular meeting January 10.

Mayor Sandy Skelton said inflation and increased tariffs are largely responsible for the higher than expected bid.

“The original design of the pool was completed approximately two years ago by Waters Edge, a highly reputable pool design company from Kansas City and the estimated cost at that time was $1,655,000,” Skelton said. “While costs have gone up since then due to inflation, a more significant reason for current cost increases is directly related to the government- imposed tariffs on metals, steel, concrete and other materials. Construction officials have told us that costs have risen as much as 25 to 30 percent due to the tariffs as well as the current economic uncertainty throughout the world.”

City officials are confident that rebidding the project will be beneficial, and they believe that more construction firms will put forward proposals when the project is bid again in the next month or so. Skelton also says more funds can be raised for the project as well.

“While we are disappointed with the bid received, the pool Steering Committee, City Council and Waters Edge will be looking at various options over the next couple of weeks,” Skelton said. “We feel confident that additional funds can be raised and that several cost saving changes can be implemented. With continued good leadership, this budgetary dilemma will be resolved, and we will move forward with our plans to construct a nice pool for the citizens of Clarendon and Donley County.”