Though the lowest bid was slightly higher than the available funding, “value engineering” could add an expanded lounge area and pro shop, an enlarged and improved covered porch and surrounding, a kitchen area, and a new building to house golf carts.
The City of Wilmington, N.C. is looking to move ahead with around $1 million in additions and expansions to the clubhouse at the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course, the Port City Daily reported. While the lowest bid was slightly over budget, city staff hope to use value engineering and money from the parks bond to make it work financially.
The project includes expanding the lounge area and pro shop, expanding and improving the covered porch and surrounding, building a kitchen area, and constructing a new building to house golf carts, the Port City Daily reported. The total available funding is $1,058,000.
The city closed its request for proposals period on the project last week after delays due first to rebidding the work and then bid-period extensions, the Port City Daily reported. The city received five bids, with the lowest being $1,115,900 from Wilmington-based ATD Building Group—the bid was $57,900 over available funds, according to city e-mails.
In an e-mail to City Manager Sterling Cheatham, Community Services Director Amy Beatty recommended moving ahead with ATD by value engineering—i.e. finding less expensive materials or design options—to bring the cost down and using money from the parks bond to cover potential overruns (i.e. contingencies), the Port City Daily reported.
“If we are able to get the project within budget, I recommend moving some of the park bond contingency funds into the budget for contingency and awarding the project,” Beatty wrote.
The city also closed an RFP period on a revenue study for the course, the Port City Daily reported. When complete, the “comprehensive independent” study will analyze green and cart fees compared to local competitors—most notably Beau Rivage—to help the city maximize the profitability of the course.
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