Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Expo Center Improvements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission awards final phase of Expo Center improvements; county says venue loses about $400,000 annually
Summary
The commission awarded the final phase (phase 5) of Livestock and Expo Center improvements to Hutton for a not-to-exceed total of $763,244.44; county staff said the Expo Center operates at an approximate $400,000 annual loss and the work is required under a lease with the city of Salina.
The Saline County Commission approved awarding the final phase of maintenance and improvement work at the Livestock and Expo Center to Hutton on July 1, with a not-to-exceed total of $763,244.44.
Deputy County Administrator Hannah Bet described Phase 5 as the last phase required under the county's lease agreement with the city of Salina. The work includes siding replacement on Kenwood Hall and 4-H facilities, roof replacement for AG Hall, tuckpointing of brick work on AG Hall and concrete repairs in front of Kenwood Hall. Bids opened June 20; staff recommended awarding the base bid to Hutton ($732,044) with two bid alternates (roof membrane and a 4-H garage door) and an allowance of up to $18,000 for additional brick replacement, for a total not to exceed $763,244.44.
Bet told commissioners the county had earmarked $810,000 in the capital improvement fund for this phase. She said those expenditures would leave a small remaining balance for project management services and potential future work at the Livestock and Expo Center.
Commissioners asked for cumulative costs the county has spent on the facility over the life of the lease; staff said they would provide a total in a future report. During discussion, Hannah Bet said the county had a 25- to 30-year lease term on the facility and the county was roughly five years into the agreement.
Commissioner questions included whether the county could back out of the lease if it did not meet improvement requirements; Bet said she would check lease default provisions with county legal counsel and get the commission a written answer.
Commissioner discussion also noted operational losses. "Operationally, the expo center loses about $400,000 a year," Bet said, a figure cited during the meeting in response to a commissioner asking whether the facility generated net revenue.
The motion to award the bid to Hutton with the two alternates and the brick allowance passed; commissioners approved the staff recommendation by voice vote.
Ending: Staff will proceed with contract execution and return the cumulative historical costs for Expo Center improvements at a later meeting.
