Council hears progress reports on parks, ball fields, boat ramp and Mount Olivet road improvements

Kershaw County Council received an update Aug. 20 from Alliance Consulting Engineers on five county infrastructure projects, covering recreational facilities and a roadway intended to serve the Governor’s Hill/Prestige Farms industrial area.

Kyle Clampett of Alliance Consulting Engineers presented construction progress and timelines for: the Kershaw County West Recreation Complex; rehabilitation of Boyd Young and Copeland ball fields; the Watery River Veterans Park boat ramp; Woodward Park; and Mount Olivet roadway improvements. He said work on several projects is on schedule for fall completion but that the Watery River boat ramp had weather- and soil-related complications.

Key items and schedule highlights

- Kershaw County West Recreation Complex: Clampett said the concept envisioned about 210 parking spaces and an access roadway; construction has added curb and gutter, additional concrete sidewalk and fencing. Compaction tests have passed and Alliance expects completion around October. Clampett said lighting was part of overall project planning but that lighting procurement and installation are managed separately from the construction contract.

- Boyd Young and Copeland ball fields: The scope expanded during design review from minor rehabilitation to full replacement of fencing, dugouts and foul poles. Contractor Services of Kershaw is building the work; Alliance reported a projected Oct. 22 completion date.

- Watery River Veterans Park boat ramp: Alliance said the floating-dock orientation was changed to reduce debris impact. High river levels had delayed concrete pours earlier; two concrete pads poured previously were removed because they did not meet specifications, at no cost to Kershaw County. The contractor changed installers and Alliance reported improved concrete performance. Undercutting and soil replacement were required in some areas due to a high water table; those undercuts are complete and Alliance expects roughly two weeks of working days (weather permitting) to finish remaining concrete, asphalt and fencing.

- Woodward Park: Construction includes four baseball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, shelters and concessions; Kershaw Builders Incorporated (KBI) is the contractor. Alliance reported this project started in February and is on a December completion timeline.

- Mount Olivet roadway improvements: Presented as related to the Governor’s Hill/Prestige Farms/industrial park area, Alliance said the project would widen roadway and address drainage; if approved, construction would be a 90-day schedule.

Change orders, quality control and costs

Clampett said the Watery River project had several change orders (floating-dock ramp, dock repair, undercut/replacement of unsuitable soils and geogrid reinforcement in the parking lot) and that funds remain in the identified change-order allowance. Alliance said it has passed compression/strength tests on concrete currently in place and maintains records of compaction tests; failed or substandard concrete was removed and replaced at the contractor’s expense.

Council members pressed on practical impacts of delaying bids or awards. A contractor representative (identified in the meeting as Cal) said the contractor had not mobilized, so there would be no remobilization fee for a short postponement, but that asphalt-temperature windows and colder weather could compress the schedule and create timing pressure for overlays if work slips into late fall.

Council conversation and next steps

Council discussed possible small additions to scope—parking-surface gravel, conduit sleeves to support future food trucks or utilities and lighting quantities for the West Recreation Complex—and asked staff to return with finance-committee recommendations and any necessary change orders. Council deferred a separate roadway bid (item 10a) to the next meeting so the finance committee can review budgetary impacts; the airport taxiway lighting and signage rehabilitation (an FAA grant project with a reported county match of roughly $52,000 or about 2.5% of the project) was approved by the council.