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Oklahoma Aquarium phase one comes in under $400,000; city staff outline remaining $1.16M budget
Summary
City staff told the Jinx City Council the aquarium’s phase‑one work came in about $62,954 under a $400,000 allocation and outlined a remaining project budget of roughly $1,162,953, with staff warning work is complex and could take about two years before animals are moved in.
City staff reported to the Jinx City Council on Feb. 17 that phase‑one work at the Oklahoma Aquarium’s aquatic research center came in under the $400,000 the council had set aside, with expenditures totaling $337,046.
The presenter, identified to the council as Mr. Alex, said most line items were at or under budget but listed a few modest overages: approximately $4,000 on waterproofing materials, about $1,000 in professional services and roughly $786 on an acrylic window. He attributed the waterproofing overrun to inflation in epoxy prices and to a supplier coverage estimate that proved low.
Mr. Alex said the council’s packet shows the original project total at about $1.5 million and that, after accounting for phase‑one spending, staff calculate $1,162,953 remains in the budget for completion. He said two line items (waterproofing and acrylic windows) will not be purchased again and that overall the team expects to be able to keep remaining costs substantially lower than the original total; he stated a personal goal to keep the remaining work under $1 million, and ideally near $800,000.
Council members asked for more detail about contingency budgeting and the original contract value for the building. Mr. Alex said he would provide the contract total and supporting details to the council after the meeting. On timing, Mr. Alex described aquarium construction as “densely mechanical” and estimated the best case as roughly two years before animals are installed and the facility is fully operational, noting many systems (pumps, plumbing loops, a 7,000‑pound DA tower and other heavy equipment) remain to be set and commissioned.
The presenter also outlined program and outreach activity tied to the aquarium: recent repair and waterproofing of the 100,000‑gallon tank, a near‑complete pollinator garden, and successful public programs including "Symphony by the Sea" and STEAM nights. He said staff are discussing whether aquarium event staff could manage community event bookings at the city’s ranch facility if the current outside contractor’s agreement is not renewed; no decision was made during the meeting.
The city manager and aquarium staff offered to return with the detailed original contract numbers and a clearer contingency breakdown for the council’s budget committee.
