Extra funding needed after Jasper outdoor pool bids higher than expected

At its most recent regular meeting, the Jasper Redevelopment Commission agreed to provide a cash contribution to the Jasper outdoor pool project to cover the difference between the project cost and engineering estimates.

This occurred due to the bids for the project coming in higher than expected when they were opened at January’s regular park board meeting.

Early estimates on the project were expected to be around $8.5 million, with a total bond of $9.196,000. While the base bids for construction from four companies came in at around the $8.5 million mark, the full project cost exceeded that estimate when alternatives were added in. These alternatives covered items such as the water slide, the current channel, the climbing wall, the zipline, shade structures, the fencing, and other pieces of the overall project.

Here are the bid amounts with the alternatives included: Garmong Construction Services’ bid came in slightly over $10 million; Krempp Construction’s bid was $9.451 million; Taber Owens Construction from Washington bid $9.253 million; Seifert Construction’s was a little over $9 million.

These also include overages and administrative charges.

Tuesday evening, the Jasper Park Board approved the bid from Taber Owens Construction for a total of $9,258,500. The amount differed from the total bid opening due to the alternatives chosen and adjustments to some materials in the project. The perimeter fence will be chainlink rather than decorative aluminum –but the entrance will maintain the original design–and the climbing wall was removed (for safety reasons) among the adjustments discussed.

The funds available from the captured property taxes in Jasper’s Central Tax Increment Finance district stand at about $1.7 million. About $550,000 could be used for the outdoor pool project if approved by the council.

The bond for the project will also be paid back with tax increment finance funds. That annual bond payment on the project is around $800,000.

Clerk/Treasurer Kiersten Knies told the redevelopment commission the district captured about $700,000 in 2023. That is expected to increase to $900,000 in 2024 and continue to grow as tax abatements on business and real property fall off over the next few years.

The Redevelopment Authority is holding a special meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, before the regular Jasper Common Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings are in the council chamber at City Hall. The common council will have the special allocation from TIF in front of it for consideration during its regular meeting.

The outdoor pool project is not connected to the Regional Wellness Center project.

This story has been updated to reflect the original construction of the fence as well as the safety concern with the removal of the climbing wall.