Commission approves $100,000 contingency from ARPA for Trey Park playground project

The Public Works commission voted to hold a $100,000 contingency in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover potential shortfalls on the Trey Park playground project. Staff presented a budget breakdown and warned the project could need additional contractor funds beyond current line items.

Speaker 6 said the Kimley Horn scope included $10,000 for grant administration and roughly $88,000 for engineering, and that Cunningham Recreation’s equipment-and-installation quote came in at about $1,050,000. Speaker 6 said there was approximately $31,500 remaining in engineering that could be moved to the general-contractor line, but that the $20,000 left for a general contractor in the current equipment/installation line was likely insufficient. "I just really wanna make sure that this project is done correctly, especially for the community," Speaker 6 said.

Commissioners debated options for reallocating engineering dollars and whether to formally transfer funds now. To avoid delays or shortfalls, a motion was made and seconded to place $100,000 in ARPA as a contingency and keep it in ARPA until needed. After a voice vote, Speaker 1 announced the motion carried.

The staff presentation included figures stated during the meeting: an engineering budget line about $88,500, $31,500 remaining in engineering services that could be reallocated, and a Cunningham quote discussed at $1,050,000 (project totals were discussed in the $1,050,000–$1,070,000 range). Staff indicated the project start date will likely be in July and said contractors expect the work "to be finished by next spring." The commission did not adopt a formal reallocation ordinance at the meeting; the contingency was approved by motion and will remain in ARPA until drawn upon.

What’s next: staff will finalize contracts and, if necessary, move budget lines or bring a formal fund-transfer request to the commission as the project nears construction.