Creekmore Pool work under budget; OVG seeks off-site catering amendment

The Fort Smith Board of Directors will on Tuesday (Sept. 16) be asked to approve final payment for major Creekmore Pool renovations. The work is more than $100,000 under budget, according to city information.

In a memo to the Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman, Fort Smith Director of Parks and Recreation Sara Deuster said Beshears Construction worked with the city through “many challenges” during demolition and construction to deliver a facility that is updated as promised and under budget.

The final cost of the project is $5.567 million, which is $106,216.56 less than the under the guaranteed maximum price, according to Deuster. She said the remaining funds will be used for security measures and other purposes.

“This project underage will be used to install controlled door access, security cameras, and network capabilities,” Deuster noted in the memo. “At the direction of the ITS Department, this was not completed during construction. Coordination with ITS and their contractors is currently in process. Any underage remaining will go towards the replacement of the fiberglass grates around the swimming pool and diving well, as communicated to the public earlier this year.”

Work on the more than 75-year-old pool facility at Creekmore Park included a concession stand and a lifeguard break area, demolition of the bathhouse and diving well dome, construction of a new bathhouse and diving well enclosure, addition of a party/meeting room, and a new lobby. The main pool area was improved with new bleachers, fencing around the pool, and a shaded canopy around the perimeter of the facility.

The former bathhouse had outdated plumbing, ventilation, lighting, and electrical capacity that could not be addressed with minor repairs. The state of the toilet and shower areas was beyond simply installing new components because everything would have to be retrofitted, Duester said in a prior interview.

Deuster also said the renovated facility will have a broad regional benefit.

“Additionally, the permanent enclosure of the diving well will allow for high school short course meets to be hosted and provide a quality training facility for several local organizations, such as Fort Smith Public Schools, Army National Guard, Fort Smith Fire Department, Parrot Island Waterpark, and Ocean Impact,” Deuster noted in the memo.

CATERING AMENDMENT
Board members also will be asked to consider allowing OVG, the firm managing the Fort Smith Convention Center, to cater to off-site venues. The board will have to approve an amendment to the convention center operating agreement if catering is allowed.

One of the first things Denver-based OVG did when it took over management of the convention center was to make a $500,000 investment to build a full-service commercial kitchen in the convention center. OVG was able recover the expense through $50,000 annual installment payments for 10 years that would come from the facility’s operating fund.

OVG is now allowed to cater to off-site venues but only if it is to support a client that also is using the convention center.

At a recent board study session, Director Neal Martin said he is not comfortable allowing the convention center, which built its kitchen with city funds, to compete with private-sector catering operations in the area. Director Christina Catsavis said the board should be open to allowing OVG to cater because there are a limited number of caterers in the area who can handle large catering requests.

OVG is also asking for contract agreements that would extend the term of the agreement to Dec. 31, 2028, with an automatic two-year extension to Dec. 31, 2030, unless the city moves to end the operation agreement.