City Commissioners approved a $12,729.32 change order for the city’s new indoor aquatic and recreation center during their Sept. 3 meeting.
It’s the eighth change order for the facility and includes $8,460.31 for ADA door operators on entry doors, and $4,269.01 for installation of one additional irrigation zone and additional sod.
The 2016 park master plan included a combined indoor aquatic and recreation facility a visionary project but no funding was available.
In 2018, voters approved the park maintenance district and the Natatorium façade failed and the facility was closed by the end of the year. It was demolished last fall.
City’s new aquatic facility open
The city had been looking at options to replace indoor swimming or the Nat when the grant opportunity from the U.S. Defense Department opened.
The city was awarded a $10 million grant through DOD and matched that with $10 million through the park district.
The city considered several locations before settling on Lions Park, which City Manager Greg Doyon said during the facility opening was centrally located for residents and both Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard, which will use the facility for training.
City’s new aquatic center opening reschedule for July 9
The new indoor aquatics and recreation facility is about 45,000 square feet of new construction and the project included site work such as excavation, new utility extensions, new parking lots, playgrounds, and landscaping.
The building will be multi-functional and will include a recreation pool, lap pool, gym, fitness center, walking track, multipurpose room, party room, locker rooms, restrooms, child watch area, attractive lobby with seating and fireplace, reception area, offices, storage and mechanical rooms, and an elevator.
Opening of city’s new aquatic center postponed
The facility is city-owned and managed, but will also help the military with their water training needs for both Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard. Military members will also pay membership fees to use the facility.
City Commissioners unanimously approved a budget amendment for the new aquatic facility in June.
Commissioners adopted their budget for the previous fiscal year in July 2023.
That budget ran from July 1, 2023 to June 30.
City approves new recreation fees, including fees for new aquatics facility
The budget for the new aquatic center wasn’t included in that budget due to variables with construction and opening the facility, according to staff, and they decided to present an individual budget closer to its opening.
The proposed budget amendments address construction costs, one-time start-up purchases, fundraising costs and a three-month operation budget.
The original construction budget was $20,000,000 with $10,000,000 coming from a federal grant and the other half from debt service through the park maintenance district.
Through seven change orders over the construction project, the total is now estimated at $21,049,453.43, and a budget amendment is needed to include the additional $1,049,453.
The additional construction cost is being funded by:
- $622,723 in donations
- $339,278 from park maintenance district assessments
- $87,434 from a tourism grant
This eighth change order brings the total project budget to $21,062,164.75.
The brief project budget summary so far, according to city staff, is:
- architectural services: budgeted $1,885,109, expended $1,769,057.85
- construction services: budgeted $18,997,974.43, expended $18,048,075.68
- miscellaneous construction/professional services: expended $166,351.58
- total cost budgeted $21,049,453.43, total paid, $19,817,133.53
The city awarded a contract to Swank Construction for $18,349,000 in November 2022. That included a base bid of $17,995,000 and an alternative for $354,000.
The eighth change order is not included in the original $20 million budget.
Change orders two through seven are being paid with fundraising commitments, according the city, but not all of the actual cash pledges have been received by the city, according to the staff report. In some cases, those pledges will be received in installments over time.
Park and Recreation has not requested to use additional park district funds, according to the city finance office, but funds from the park district, park special revenue fund and aquatics fund may be needed to complete the one-time startup costs, three month operations budget and/or be used to cover donations not yet received, according to city finance staff.
For background on the new aquatic facility, see our previous coverage:
City’s new aquatic facility open
City’s new aquatic center opening rescheduled for July 9
Opening of city’s new aquatic center postponed
New city aquatic center opening set
City approves aquatic center change order, Nat demo payment; discusses funding for new facility
City Commission to consider aquatic center change order during April 16 meeting
City approves new recreation fees, including fees for new aquatics facility
City proposes fee structure for new aquatics center; planning June opening
Commission approves aquatic center change order
City considering change order for aquatic center
New aquatic center on track to open in May, staff discusses operations, fees
City approves aquatic center change order
City Commission to consider indoor aquatic center change order
City receives $1 million from Scheels to name new aquatics facility
City to consider change order for new indoor aquatic facility
City approves change order for new aquatic center
Construction progressing on city’s new indoor aquatic facility
City approves contract changes for indoor aquatics center
City considering change orders for indoor aquatics center
City reduces cost for aquatic center construction; approves fundraising agreement
City reduces construction contract cost for aquatic center
City staff recommending $18.43 million contract for new aquatic center
City postpones decision on aquatic center construction contract
Staff asking commission to postpone award of aquatic center contract for more review time
City breaks ground on indoor aquatics, recreation center
City considering water main contract for aquatic center on Aug. 17
DoD finds no violation in city process for aquatic center
City budget approved; work on aquatics center continuing
Commissioners approve permit, aggregation and vacating streets for aquatics center
Commission holding public hearings on portions of aquatic center project during May 18 meeting
City Commission sets public hearing on permit for aquatics facility
City Commission scheduled to set public hearing on new aquatic center during April 20 meeting
City planning board unanimously recommends permit approval for aquatic center in Lions Park
City, design team update neighborhood on aquatics facility plans
City continuing plans on aquatics center for Lions Park
City proposes Lions Park as new site for aquatics facility
DoD finds no violation in city process for aquatic center
City has been awarded $10 million grant for indoor aquatics facility
Great Falls one of 16 invited to formally apply for DOD grant for new aquatics facility
City, Malmstrom partnering for grant for potential new, joint indoor aquatics facility
