Stadium Project Costs Rise
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The projected Phase 1 costs for reconstituting Donald Gardner Stadium are continuing to escalate, members of the Opelousas Downtown Development District were told on Friday.
ODD executive director Lena Charles said the current low bid opened with two other contractors’ proposals Oct. 28 in connection with the stadium project are at least $800,000 above the proposed $6.15 million the District originally budgeted to complete Phase 1.
However, any issue with costs and approval of the low bid is apparently not affecting the plan by the ODD to proceed with the project.
Charles said renovating the stadium, current football and soccer playing surface are set to begin on schedule, sometime after the end of the current high school football season.
Although neither the city nor the ODD has approved the low bid, Charles told ODD members during the Friday meeting that she is not recommending rebidding the project.
“What we are going to do is try to work with the contractor and look at some of the line items, such as the parking lot and the guest (visitors) restroom,” said Charles.
Charles said the estimated price for visiting spectators restrooms is $200,000.
ODD member Donald D’Avy said after the meeting that ADL Construction located in Franklin is the low bidder for Phase 1, which includes renovating the stadium, installing an artificial playing surface and constructing an eight-lane outdoor track.
One Phase 1 bid submitted and opened last month estimated the entire project could cost $12 million, D’Avy added during the meeting.
Bill Rodier, executive director of the St. Landry Parish Economic and Development District questioned whether the parish public school district could possibly help with financing Phase 1.
Rodier said most of the athletic functions associated with the stadium involve parish schools.
The School Board however voted several years ago when the project was first proposed that no District revenues would be used to fund Phase 1.
ODD member Sarah Branton said she is still unsure how much financial assistance will be provided by the city to assist with the Phase 1 costs.
Branton said that while the ODD has received approval from the state bond commission to finance Phase 1 construction, she would also like to know what commitment the city will make in connection with the project.
Charles said the city will pay for the project using proceeds from events held at Donald Gardner. The city, Charles said, is also expected to pay for the operational costs in connection with the stadium.
“It’s a city project, but it gets confusing,” Branton said.
Charles said the ODD is still awaiting an ODD request from the city administration to provide municipal funding details.
“We have sent our request and as of right now, there is no documentation,” Charles added.l
