by Kylee Boyter
kboyter@cherryroad.com
Richfield City council approved a proposal to reduce the overall cost of the new pool project following a special meeting held Monday, August 19.
Sprung structures are tension membrane structures which feature aluminum arches that are durable and proven to last as a long-term structure. Imagine a building similar to a pop up tent, however it is engineered to withstand high wind loads and to shed snow easily.
The reason Richfield City council is pursuing this option, is to significantly decrease their project cost for the newly proposed Richfield City pool when they present to the Permanent Community Impact Fund Board (CIB) this coming September.
The city administrator and other council members have been told that they potential will not receive any grant funding for the project, only a loan.
“We cannot fund a $10 million dollar loan,” said Michele Jolley, city administrator during the Aug. 13 Richfield City council meeting. “Ultimately the goal with this is to not cut the pool, but if we cut the cost of the building we can still build a pool that benefits the majority.”
It was presented by Kendrick Thomas, city council member and employee of Jones and DeMille, that the rough cost estimate on the Sprung structure would decrease the total project cost from $14.35 million dollars to about $11.6 million. Richfield City has secured additional grants, donations, and other savings benefits that would decrease the overall funding presentation to the CIB to about $8.7 million, based on Thomas’s presentation.
“Before we were estimated $300 a square foot, with the Sprung structure we were able to take it down to $150 a square foot,” said Thomas.
The council felt that there were no downsides to this structure.
“From everything that I have been told and research, that building is going to outlast the pool,” said Mayor Bryan Burrows.“We would not be very good stewards with the public money to not try to save on the overall cost.”
Richfield City will present again to the CIB in September, returning with what was previously asked of them, to pursue cost saving measures.
“We hope to look back on this project, just like the Sevier Valley Center, and be grateful and proud we did it, and did it as efficiently as possible,” said Thomas.
