Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves emergency and permanent repairs for Full Blast roof amid public criticism of repeated taxpayer spending
Summary
The commission approved $142,800 for emergency repairs and $104,500 for permanent repairs to the Full Blast facility roof after damage was discovered during solar-array removal. Public commenters urged rejection, calling prior city spending on the attraction wasteful.
The Battle Creek City Commission on Sept. 2 approved two resolutions authorizing emergency and permanent repairs to the roof at the Full Blast recreational facility after staff said damage was discovered under solar arrays removed during recent work.
The emergency repair resolution (Resolution 233) authorizes payment not to exceed $142,800 to Diversified Roofing Solutions LLC for work already underway, and the permanent-repair resolution (Resolution 234) authorizes a $104,500 contract with the same vendor to complete coatings and secure a warranty. Both resolutions were moved, supported and approved by the commission.
Public commenters urged the commission to reject further spending on Full Blast. Reese Atkins, a resident, said of the two resolutions, “I don't understand why we're spending money twice on fixing something on a roof or even redoing a roof. It's the same company that's doing both of them. So why can't we just go through with one amount of money?”
John Kennevich, another resident, urged the commission to reject the repairs on fiscal grounds and called past city outlays at Full Blast poor investments. He told commissioners: “If they're not willing to make money and be self sufficient, they have no business being there in the first place. You should turn both these resolutions down because all you're doing is funding a failure at the taxpayer expense continually.”
Commissioner Lacoste asked staff to clarify why the work was split into two resolutions; staff and interim city management explained that the emergency resolution covered immediate repairs discovered during removal of solar arrays and that the second resolution covers a coating that provides a warranty and a different scope of work. Commissioner O'Donnell thanked staff for the clarification.
Both resolutions passed. Commissioners discussed the separate line items and confirmed the emergency repairs were already underway when the permanent work was proposed.
Next steps: Parks & Recreation staff will manage contract execution and warranty coordination with Diversified Roofing Solutions LLC.
Votes and money: Resolution 233 — emergency repairs, not to exceed $142,800 — approved. Resolution 234 — permanent repairs, $104,500 contract — approved.
