Plans for park get pricey

By ANNE LINDBERG

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 26, 2000

PINELLAS PARK -- Bids are in for the Broderick Park renovation and the news is bad. The lowest bid is more than a half-million dollars more than the budget.

"It's looking like the architect provided the city with an overly optimistic budget estimate," Pinellas Park City Manager Jerry Mudd said.

That happened in part because the architect failed to take into account city officials' desire to have a park building, at 6755 62nd St. N, that could withstand severe hurricanes, he said. Officials want to use the building as a shelter for employees and their families in case of emergencies.

"That's something over $300,000 in the increased cost," Mudd said.

Elapsed time accounted for some of the unforeseen cost. Pinellas Park expected to put the park renovations out for bid last year, but a redesign to include the hurricane upgrade delayed the project. During that time, prices went up, Mudd said.

"We're examining the bid price at this time and will be prepared to discuss that more in the future," Mudd said.

That discussion is likely to happen May 9, the first City Council workshop next month, said Mike Gustafson, assistant city manager. It's likely the council will vote on an option two days later.

Among the options Gustafson said he probably will take to the council are going ahead with it, rebidding the job or delaying the project for a year. It's unlikely that the proposed renovations would be scaled down.

"I'm not sure what I would scale down because it takes away services," Gustafson said.

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