Jasper approves $28,000 for Hoosier Desk study
The Jasper Board of Public Works picked up the rest of the tab on a combined architectural, engineering and design study of the Hoosier Desk building.
The board approved an amount not to exceed $28,000 to pay for the studies to be conducted by Universal Designs and Gamble Associates to determine the feasibility of a joint Jasper Public Library and Jasper Arts project in the building. The money will come from the city’s economic development income tax fund.
Last month, the Jasper Public Library board of directors approved paying 25 percent — not to exceed $15,000 — for the study. (Story here)
The board expected the Jasper Arts Department to pick up another 25 percent of the cost and they did so with a similar resolution at last week’s meeting. The money for the arts department’s portion of the study will come from a fund established several years ago to pay for the future expansion of the Jasper Arts Center. The fund has been accumulating private donations for the estimated 9 to 12 million dollar project. (Story here)
According to City Attorney Renee Kabrick, the total of the contract for all the studies and designs is about $53,000. The amount, including any other miscellaneous fees such as title search for the property, is not expected to exceed $56,000.
Boston-based Gamble and Associates will conduct the architectural study for about $29,000 and Universal Design of Ferdinand will complete the environmental engineering study for $23,000.
Public Works board member Dave Prechtel, who is also a Jasper Common Councilman, made the motion to approve the money from EDIT. “I have been involved in this [project] so far and everyone is concerned about spending more money on this project,” Prechtel said, “but, we have got enough invested so far that we need to go ahead and take a look at this.”
Mayor Terry Seitz, who presides over the three-person board of public works and safety and appoints the other two members, stated he felt that some other funding sources may be available for environmental studies of the building.
Some concerns about the location of the Hoosier Desk building in regards to potential flooding from the nearby Patoka River have been voiced. The location could cause problems with the issuance of bonds as well as acquiring insurance for the building. According to Kabrick, the city is contesting the new maps completed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“From our perspective this [flood plain designation] has some discrepancies,” Kabrick said. “We have identified some discrepancies in the maps that were handed to us. We are investigating the map and hoping their won’t be any issues.”
Tim Bell, the third public works board member, was not in attendance at today’s meeting.
