Park Board to Vote on Workman Bid Tonight

The Effingham Park Board will vote tonight whether to award a contract to construct the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex.

Poettker Construction of Breese is the low bidder on the work, but the bid came in well above the architect's estimated cost. Since then, Poettker officials have worked with Park District staffers to cut costs for the building, mainly through substitution of materials but also through changes in the infrastructure.

A key for the project was a vote by the Effingham City Council Tuesday night to contribute $250,000 in each of the next two years toward its cost. That funding is expected to allow the project to include an eight-lane competitive swimming pool. Without the City contribution, officials were looking at cutting the pool to six lanes.

Park Board members will review the most recent cost-cutting moves before voting on the award of the contract. The Board is also expected to discuss the amount of debt certificates to be sold to finance the balance of the project cost.

Park Board President Dave McDevitt has remained aggressive about getting the contract awarded and construction underway with a goal to have the Complex open later in 2015.