Published: September 09, 2008 08:17 am      

Expo center additions cost city $11,000

By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer

Corbin’s City Commission approved $2,675 in change orders to the Southeastern Kentucky Agriculture and Exposition Center during its regular September meeting Monday.

The city also hired design firm Caruso to make plans for kitchen and concession spaces at the new expo center, with design fees of approximately $8,000.

The change orders were requested by SMG, the management firm hired to run the center. Cliff Clinger, the general manager for the expo center, said the changes would include widening the size of the services doors located at both ends of the arena.

“We are suggesting they change from eight by eight (feet) to 10 by 10 (feet), allowing for forklifts and different equipment to drive into those storage areas, instead of smaller hand-held (equipment, which would take) more man-hours,” Clinger said.

The changes to the doors are estimated to cost $600 each.

SMG also requested changes to the ticket windows which would make them bigger, allowing more people to be use the windows at one time. These changes will cost $575.

An area that was listed on the Expo Center’s plans as a storage area will be eliminated and converted into new office space per SMG’s change order request.

SMG’s change orders totaled $2,675.

Clinger also presented the commission with the $8,000 quote from Caruso for kitchen designs. Clinger said for the $8,000 the city will get two separate plans, “Plan A” for the “ultimate” complete kitchen and concession areas, and a second more immediate “Plan B”.

“With the other plan (Plan A), as time marches on and funds become available we could add to the kitchen and bring in equipment we would need for other services,” Clinger said.

Clinger said the designs are needed “yesterday” so that construction crews can begin pouring concrete with Caruso’s plan in mind.

Mayor Willard McBurney said rather than cause any more delays the commission should move on the plans, and the commission approved the change orders and design costs.

McBurney asked Todd Sadler field operation supervisor for Branscum, the company building the Expo Center, if the prices presented to the commission by SMG were reasonable.

“Yes, they are very reasonable,” Sadler replied.

In other commission business:

• Branscum presented a possible color scheme for the new Expo Center

• The commission opened and read bids for paving. Elmo Greer and Son’s offered a $163,787.14 bid and K and K Contracting had the winning bid at $163,748.16

• The commission authorized the purchase of one new police cruiser at a state contract price of $20,699. Corbin Police Chief Carson Mullins wasn’t sure exactly how many miles the old cruiser had on it, but said the vehicle needed to be replaced.

“Well it’s in the shop more than it’s on the road...It’s a K9 unit so it gets a lot of use,” Mullins said.

• The commission authorized the city attorney to amend a code enforcement ordinance. City Attorney Bob Hammons said the old wording allowed the city to double a fine for a person contesting a code enforcement fine.

• The commission hired a new laborer to replace a terminated employee in the Public Works department

• The commission accepted the resignation of Thomas Evans from the Fire Department.

The Corbin City Commission also held a special meeting last Friday to discuss a personnel hearing. City attorney Hammons said the city employee in question requested that the hearing not be public. The employee’s attorney requested a continuance of the hearing at a later date.