Manaway council reviews park project overruns and $117,700 "wish list"; asks for detailed bids before final approvals

Council members and volunteer coordinators spent the largest portion of the meeting on a multi-part park project at James/Danes Park. Staff reported that the original contract was set at roughly $65,000; to date the town has recorded approximately $74,000 in completed work and a proposed change-order overrun of $9,205.02. Volunteers and staff presented a park "wish list" that, when combined with the overage and earlier spending, totals about $117,700. Town staff said the council could authorize up to $120,000 and later amend the budget in spring to absorb the additional spending; staff said the money would come from impact fees.

Volunteers and council members disagreed on details and sequencing. A parks advocate said a rock retaining wall (estimated by volunteers at about $6,500–$8,500) would reduce long-term maintenance; others raised questions about sourcing and transport of boulders. Council members asked for formal, line-item bids and clearer delineation of what has already been spent versus what remains to be contracted.

Council did approve a separate short personnel pay adjustment earlier in the meeting, but on the retaining wall, turf and fence items members were evenly split between acting now to finish work this year and tabling the larger wish list until written bids and site plans were available. Staff was directed to put retaining-wall estimates and the detailed change-order paperwork on the next regular meeting agenda. Several volunteers and councilors emphasized that impact fees, not general fund money, would pay the costs, but some council members said they wanted to see the exact expenditure plan before authorizing more work.