Council to consider more funding, contract for Blankenship Field parking lot

Posted at 10:23 am June 1, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The lower parking lot at Blankenship Field, which is used for football games and high school graduation.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider increasing the amount of money to be used for parking lot work at Blankenship Field, and members will also consider awarding a contract for the project during a meeting tonight (Monday, June 1).

The City Council agreed in May 2014 to use $180,000 in traffic camera money for improvements to the lower parking lot at Blankenship Field, which is used for football games and high school graduation.

Council agreed to increase that amount to a maximum of $250,000 in July 2014, Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said in a May 26 memo to City Manager Mark Watson.

But the work could cost $264,791, according to a proposed contract from Rogers Group Inc. of Oak Ridge that the Council will consider tonight.

And the city has a $10,000 agreement with Michael Brady Inc. for project design, which leaves $240,000, Cinder said.

“With the current bid of approximately $265,000, a total authorization of $275,000 is necessary, therefore requiring the proposed amendment,” Cinder said.

Cinder said the improvements to the lower parking lot was a key item proposed by the Blankenship Revitalization Committee. The committee hopes to have the work completed before the first home football game.

The work could include resurfacing, striping, and accessibility improvements.

Today’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom. See the agenda here.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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