The Clay County Commission on Thursday voted to table a proposed contract with CHM Government Services to develop a 10-year parks master plan and a five-year strategic plan after several commissioners pressed staff and the vendor on cost, scope and how the plan would translate into funded projects.

John Davis, parks director, told the commission the county issued RFP 30-25 in March, received eight bids and that an evaluation committee — including three park board members and staff from planning and historic sites — shortlisted three firms before recommending CHM Government Services. "We recommend CHM government services," Davis said.

The plan sought a public-input focused master plan covering county parks, trails and historic sites and a five-year strategic plan to identify near-term priorities. Davis told the commission the 2003 master plan was out of date and county population had risen about 41% since then; the county needs current data on user needs, trail connectivity and financial options.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about the proposal’s cost and the vendor’s hourly billing. Commissioner Johnson pointed to the proposal’s hourly rates and asked about a $305-per-hour managing-director billing rate. Mike Bell, a partner with RDG working with CHM, said, "He will bill at $305 an hour," and described that senior staff would handle financing and marketing while other staff do the fieldwork.

Several commissioners said they supported the idea of a master plan but were uneasy about the price and wanted stronger assurances the plan will include actionable, fundable projects (cost estimates, financing options and prioritized implementation steps) rather than simply a study. Commissioner Wagner said a strategic plan should recommend funding options and a plan of finance so identified projects can be implemented rather than left on a shelf.

Commissioner Worthington moved that the commission table Resolution 2025-187 (the recommended contract award) until the incoming county administrator can review the submission and advise the commission; the motion passed 6-0. The administrator will coordinate follow-up questions with staff and the recommended firm and report back to the commission.

The commission’s action pauses the county’s planned contract award while preserving the county’s evaluation record and vendor recommendation. Staff said the selection committee included parks board members Sheila Lillis, Bud Wackerley and David Mecklenburg as well as planning and zoning director Kip Jones and historic-sites staff.

What happens next: staff will transmit commissioner questions raised at the meeting to CHM/RDG and the incoming county administrator and schedule a follow-up presentation or a revised contract recommendation for a future meeting.