Southgate’s city leaders talked at last week’s meeting about how to address the parking lot at the community center, which one council member described as currently just a series of “chunks.”
Council took the first step to fix the problem at its July 1 meeting when it approved a $253,000 estimate to do the work at the center, located at 301 Walnut St.
“As much as I hate to say it, I think it’s our parking lot, and we’ve let it go way too long,” council member Paul Melville said. “We’re going to have to look into doing something.”
Hamberg said the city had originally budgeted around $120,000, and that not adding the extra money to the bond could mean the city would face a shortfall at the end of the year.
“We’ve got other events going on there,” Hamberg said. “… My fear is that because of how bad that lot is, or that it’s gotten over the last six to nine months, mainly after the winter, that thing has basically turned into chunks.
“We put a snow plow on that today; we’re gonna dig the whole thing up.”
City Engineer Jim Shumate said the estimate includes about $195,000 for the repairs plus another 30% contingency fee (which calculates to nearly $58,000) for any unanticipated cost overruns. Hamberg said the cost could be added to a $1.48 million bond the city is seeking.
City Treasurer Patty Edgley said the bond proceeds would go into a separate interest-bearing Bank of New York account. Remittance requests would be sent to the Kentucky League of Cities, which would release funds to the city.
Hamberg hoped work on the final bond amount would be completed within the next two weeks.
Shumate said the project would go through a public bidding process.
“Hopefully these numbers will prove to be conservative,” he said.
Mellville said if bids come in lower than expected, the city could spend the savings toward paying off the bond.
Hamberg would like to have the parking lot done before the end of October at the latest.
Southgate City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. July 15 at the city building, located at 122 Electric Ave. in Southgate.