The city of El Dorado is moving forward on a couple of construction projects, as much as is allowed by coronavirus (COVID-19)-related delays in the supply chain for building materials and the availability of contractors.
Robert Edmonds, director of public works, provided updates last week on the status of projects to add a second drive-through lane for payments at the El Dorado Water Utilities and to relocate and build a new city dog pound.
Earlier this year, the city accepted an offer from LANXESS to lease to the city two acres of land at the intersection of U.S 82 and South West Avenue/Southfield Road as the new site of the city pound.
The agreement calls for a 99-year lease at a nominal fee for the city.
In 2018, the El Dorado City Council dedicated $22,907 from the city's reserve coffers to build a new dog pound and with additional funding from the public works' budget, Edmonds has said about $40,000 is available for the project.
The search for a suitable location for the new pound took three years and earlier this year, Edmonds informed council members about the offer from LANXESS.
The pound will be moved from the City Shop on Martin Luther King Boulevard, just south of East Hillsboro/Junction City Road.
Edmonds and city officials have said the new site has room for expansion, including the addition of more pens to house dogs.
Also, heavy traffic flow and high visibility in the area will help to curb break-ins and dog thefts, a re-occurring problem at the existing pound, they said.
During an El Dorado Water and Public Works Board meeting on Sept. 15, Edmonds reported that a topographic survey had been conducted on the new site.
"There's possibly another opportunity that's come up with the building. We have not received a proposal on it but we have just been made aware that there's possibly another option that would save us some money on the building," Edmonds told the EWPWB, which is primarily made up of El Dorado City Council members.
He explained there is an existing building on the U.S 82 and South West Avenue/Southfield Road site that could possibly be torn down and the parts salvaged and re-used to build the dog pound.
Council Member Judy Ward asked how long it would take for building materials to arrive if the city constructed a brand-new facility.
Last month, local architect Michael Rogers, of MR Designs, told board members that the project was in the design and development phase and he was working with Edmonds to finalize construction documents.
Rogers also said that delays and disruptions in the manufacturing and delivery of building materials have created concerns about costs and a timeline for the project, adding that a six-month minimum has been cited for metal buildings.
"And for a large building with any complexities at all, it's going to be 52 weeks," he said.
However, Rogers said the city will be able to determine costs and a construction schedule in real time.
Edmonds made similar statements Sept. 15, telling Ward, "Well, that's the problem with any manufactured building right now."
He said the Department of Public Works is experiencing similar issues with the construction project that is planned for the water utilities.
In July, the city finalized the $150,000 purchase of property -- the former office of Larry Holder, CPA -- at 512 N. Washington Avenue, which is adjacent to the EWU office, to add a second drive-through, to build a second payment lane for the water utilities.
City and EWU officials have said the additional lane will help alleviate traffic backups that occur during certain periods each month when customers flood the EWU to pay their bills.
Edmonds and John Peppers, general manager of the EWU, have said that the majority of EWU customers use the existing drive-through to make their monthly payments, adding that traffic spills out onto Washington Avenue and can stretch for more than a block, particularly during the first of the month.
The Department of Public Works has also moved its administrative offices from City Hall to the office building at 512 N. Washington.
Like the existing EWU drive-through lane, the new lane will come with a payment window and a pneumatic tube.
A base bid of $285,000 was awarded to Diversified Construction and Design.
The bid includes an eight-inch concrete slab for the driveway, versus a deductive of $265,000, also from Diversified, for a six-inch slab.
Edmonds said last week there is a delay in the manufacturing and delivery of building trusses that are needed for the job, telling Ward there is a six-month lead time for the trusses.
However, he said Diversified provided information on an alternative truss that comes with a two-month lead time.
"It's the same thing with the dog pound. New buildings, some of the components have a got a long lead time -- six to 12 months lead time on them," Edmonds explained.
"So, if this other option works out and we can save money -- of course, the thing's already there -- and they can tear it down and re-erect it and us save money, we're going to save a lot of time," he continued.