Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement Seymour Minden topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislators approve Seymour (CMAR) for $9M Minden Recreational Complex renovation
Summary
The Joint Transportation, Highway and Public Works Committee on Nov. 5 approved use of the Seymour (CMAR) delivery method for a roughly $9 million renovation of the Minden Recreational Complex.
The Joint Transportation, Highway and Public Works Committee on Nov. 5 approved use of the Seymour (construction manager at risk) procurement method for renovations to the Minden Recreational Complex in Webster Parish. The city’s rec enhancement coordinator, a municipal procurement consultant and the project engineer told the joint committee the project is estimated at about $9 million and combines several specialty components including turf conversion, retrofit of lighting fixtures on existing poles, improved drainage and pavilion and field repairs.
City of Minden staff and consultants said they advertised and selected an architect–engineer joint venture using the statewide RFQ/RFP process required by statute and that Simpson Sports Engineering will serve as engineer of record and oversee construction. Paul Holmes with the Louisiana Municipal Association said CMAR was chosen because a small field of specialty contractors competes for sports-construction work and CMAR lets the owner confirm contractor capacity earlier in the schedule. Engineer Jesse Simpson said the work is specialty driven and that many contractors perform the full scope in-house, limiting the pool in any procurement.
Lawmakers asked how many firms applied to be the design team (two firms formed a joint venture to submit), whether combining components to reach the statutory Seymour threshold was occurring and how CMAR compares with traditional public bid. Committee members pressed staff on whether combining projects to reach the $5 million Seymour threshold is lawful; presenters said the city followed counsel’s advice and that the project is a single, coordinated scope rather than split phasing.
Representative Dawn Dickerson moved approval on behalf of the House and Senator Abraham moved approval on behalf of the Senate; committee minutes record no objections and the Seymour authorization was granted. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or recorded individual votes.
Next steps reported by city staff include finalizing CMAR selection and advancing from schematic design to contractor procurement and construction oversight.
—Reported from the Nov. 5 Joint Transportation, Highway and Public Works Committee meeting in Baton Rouge.
