City provides timeline for town-center pavilion and community center expansion; construction plans submitted to state

City Manager Miller told the East Ridge City Council on Jan. 9 that work at the town-center site west of City Hall is progressing and that construction documents for the community center expansion are complete.

On the pavilion project Miller said on-site grading, parking-lot grading, underground storm installation and building-pad grading are complete; the retention pond is graded and stabilized and underground domestic water is about 70% complete. He said the city would begin foundation work and underground electrical and slab-on-grade work when weather permits and that the crew expects to start construction around May 1 with a 270-day completion target.

Regarding the East Ridge Community Center expansion, Miller said staff reviewed 98% construction plans with Kimley-Horn and H&K and that plans are now 100% complete. The project will enlarge the gymnasium/basketball court, enhance the senior area and kitchen, and add two restrooms off the senior room. Miller said the project has $1,200,000 in funding: $600,000 from the city and $600,000 from the state. The plans will be submitted to the Tennessee Land and Water Conservation Fund (LPRF) for review and the city expects to go out to bid Feb. 2 with a March 11 bid opening and an award in late March or early April.

Miller said the city is aiming to complete the multipurpose facility and the community center expansion in late 2025 or early 2026, contingent on weather and construction schedules. Council members asked for clarifications about what the $1.2 million covers; Miller confirmed the sprinkler system is covered by the grant funds and that road construction funds would come from the pavilion contingency if needed. A council member asked whether the $1.2 million included the road; Miller said the $1.2 million covers the center work and sprinkler but not the road; road costs will come from other contingency funds.

Provenance (excerpt): "Grading of the retention pond is complete and has been stabilized...Underground domestic water is 70% complete. We'd like to start on the foundations and start on the installation of the underground electrical and the slab on grade...We're looking at getting this all prepped and ready. It's going out to bid on February 2nd. Bid opening is March 11th. The award will be either late March or early April with the start of construction around May 1st." (tc 00:06:24)

Sections:{"lede":"City staff reports grading and utility work complete at the town-center site and submits final community center expansion plans to the state; bids are scheduled for February with construction targeted to begin in May.","nut_graf":"Plans call for a larger gym, enhanced senior amenities and kitchen upgrades funded by a $1.2 million package split evenly between the city and the state; the city said the grant covers the sprinkler system but not off-site road work, which would be covered by project contingency funds.","ending":"If bids proceed on schedule the city expects construction in mid-2025 and completion by late 2025 or early 2026, weather permitting."}