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Morganton awards $2.93M contract for Kataba Meadows park maintenance building; FEMA obligates $4.5M
Summary
Council awarded a $2,929,329.90 contract for a consolidated park maintenance building at Kataba Meadows and approved budget amendments to accept $4,514,671 in FEMA obligations under a 428 election; staff noted FEMA funding is reimbursement-based.
Morganton City Council on April 6 awarded a $2,929,329.90 contract to Stuart McKe General Contractors of Morgan for a new Kataba Meadows Park maintenance building and approved related budget amendments to accept FEMA obligations totalling $4,514,671.
Assistant Manager Rob Winkler outlined the project background: two existing maintenance buildings sustained severe hurricane damage and the city elected to consolidate into one replacement structure located outside known flood areas. The project design and bidding process produced seven responsive bids; the low responsive bid (including a 5% contingency of $139,491.90) totaled $2,929,329.90. Winkler said the facility is intended to serve city maintenance needs for decades: "It's going to be something that this department can utilize for the next 30, 40, 50 years."
FEMA and budget implications: staff reported FEMA completed required reviews and has obligated $4,514,671 for the project under a 428 election, meaning the city will receive FEMA reimbursement for eligible costs and may retain unobligated funds to support additional park projects. City Manager Sally Sandy emphasized the reimbursement nature of FEMA funding: the city must incur and document expenses and then submit claims for reimbursement rather than receive a lump-sum check in advance.
Council action: the council awarded the construction contract to Stuart McKe General Contractors and also approved a budget amendment to accept FEMA proceeds into the Helen Capital Projects Fund and transfer them to the Helen Special Revenue Fund. Staff noted the city must manage cash flow while spending to satisfy FEMA's reimbursement process.
What’s next: staff will execute construction agreements, manage bid/procurement oversight, and file FEMA reimbursement requests as project costs are incurred. The council authorized the mayor and city manager to execute agreements related to the contract; timeline for construction start was not specified in the meeting transcript.
Speakers quoted in this article include Assistant Manager Rob Winkler and City Manager Sally Sandy. The council approved both motions by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally.
