Morehead City approves amended $8.01M W.S. King Recreation contract after public pushback

Morehead City Council approved an amended design‑build contract with Daniels & Daniels Construction Company on Feb. 10 to move forward with the W.S. King Recreation Building, authorizing a construction price not to exceed $8,011,862 contingent on financing and approval by the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

John Wade of Arendell Engineers told the council that the action before them was to approve the construction price so the city could complete financing and then return for final authorization to begin construction. "What you are approving tonight is the construction price for the addition. This will allow the City to go through their financing mechanisms," he said.

Resident Curtis Oden, a longtime Planning Board member, urged the council to delay awarding the $8 million contract to allow additional community input, questioning whether the funding sources and grant makeup were clear and stressing the building’s role as a historic community asset for the north side. "I think we may be moving a little too fast as far as approval tonight on an $8 million addition without a little more community input," Oden said, noting concerns about neighborhood impact and unclear grant funding.

Council debate emphasized two competing considerations: citizen input and the project’s long history of vetting versus the city’s prior expenditures and scheduling needs. Staff and several councilmembers reminded the council that the city has invested an estimated more than $500,000 to reach the current design and that delaying the project likely would require rebidding and could increase costs (staff projected the total could rise into the $10–12 million range if pushed out). The council voted on a motion to table consideration of the contract — a motion made by Richard and seconded on the floor — but that motion failed 3–2 (Councilmembers Abell and Taylor voted to table; Stiles, Ballou and Walker opposed). Following additional discussion, the council then voted to approve the amended contract; the motion to approve passed by voice vote and was recorded as unanimous.

The contract award authorizes staff to proceed with financing steps and scheduling; the city noted a targeted notice to proceed in late May if financing and approvals proceed on schedule. Councilmembers and staff also said they will continue opportunities for public engagement during design and construction phases.

Next steps: finalize financing, secure Local Government Commission approval as required, and issue notice to proceed pending those approvals.