Commissioners authorize Playland shelter, cabin change orders and Gage Park upgrades

The Shawnee County Commission approved several Parks and Recreation contracts and change orders Sept. 24, advancing Playland and Lake Shawnee campground projects, Parks Director Tim Lorent told the board.

Lorent said Cunningham Recreation was the low bidder at $13,890 for a shelter at Playland; the contract calls for completion by Nov. 30. Separately, three change orders from Shirley Construction for Lake Shawnee cabins will alter windows (–$4,246), add a vaulted ceiling (+$3,424) in one cabin and install a fire-suppression sprinkler system in both cabins (+$33,821), yielding a net increase of $32,999. "We did not know at the time when we started this project that fire suppression systems were going to be required," Lorent said, attributing the change to permitting requirements.

Lorent also presented related Gage Park expenditures to be paid from Gage Park sales tax funds: $20,000 for electrical work for Playland path lights (DL Smith Electrical), an estimated $7,900 for road and parking repairs (Marico Asphalt), and a $7,510 purchase for a drinking fountain (Most Dependable Fountains). A separate maintenance compound overhead-door project was approved; the transcript contains a garbled figure for that line item and the clerk's office should be consulted for the exact amount. Commissioners approved all items by voice vote.