Council hears funding questions after Kimley Horn contract raises pickleball project cost

Council members pressed staff for details after the engineering contract for a proposed pickleball project was reported to be higher than the budgeted design allowance.

Staff described the project as a roughly $700,000 undertaking that includes $200,000 from the town’s general fund and additional grant funding to cover the remainder. Staff said the town had budgeted $25,000 for preliminary design work but had signed a contract with Kimley Horn for $52,000. Council member Worley and others asked where the additional roughly $27,000 would come from and whether it would require additional town funding or reductions elsewhere in the budget. Town staff said the intent is to invoice state grant funds first, and once state funding is exhausted the town will draw on its match and then be reimbursed; they also said the county’s share of funding would be tapped as part of the overall package.

Council member Worley asked whether the added $27,000 would come from Harry’s department budget or another source; staff maintained that the town’s contribution remains $200,000 and that the additional design cost will be covered by the grant reimbursements or adjustments elsewhere in the capital plan if necessary. No final appropriation was made at the workshop; staff said the contract had been signed and that the budget would be adjusted and reported back during the final budget process.

Council members also discussed layout details and park impacts, including parking and green-space treatment in the design. Staff emphasized that the current design uses reinforced grass (grassed parking) rather than paved parking in some areas and said a detailed layout and grant status would be provided in future council meetings.