By NATE KING
Salina Post
The Salina City Commission voted Monday to reject a $1.5 million bid from Smoky Hill Construction for proposed upgrades to Jerry Ivey Memorial Park.
Salina Parks Director Jeff Hammond and designer Jim Schuessler of George Butler Associates presented the updated and scaled-down project to commissioners at its Monday meeting on Jan. 27. The project includes a new splash pad, a water wall feature, and a law enforcement memorial honoring the life and legacy of Jerry Ivey, a Salina police officer who died in the line of duty.
Commissioners cited concerns about the project’s rising costs, the need for multiple bids, and the impact of scope reductions on the splash pad's long-term value.
The city originally approved the design and engineering for the project in August 2024, with an early estimate suggesting costs of around $1.1 million. When bids opened in December, Smoky Hill Construction was the only bidder, submitting a proposal of $1.82 million—significantly above the original expected cost.
After reviewing potential reductions to bring overall costs down, the city worked with the designers at George Butler Associates (GBA) to adjust the project scope. The revised plan eliminated various features, including limestone seating, additional water cannons, and parts of the memorial plaza, reducing the bid to $1.5 million.
“We've maintained the integrity of the entire project and provided a high quality look. We did remove some of the esthetics, such as seating and some additional square footage by removing some of the requirements on the bid with the liquidated damages, the schedule, the requirements, electrical and stuff like that. So it really does maintain an exemplary, significant project for you in in your region,” Shuessler said.
Even with these reductions, the project still exceeded available funding.
Vice Mayor Mike Hoppock, who initially opposed the larger project, said he had reconsidered when costs appeared manageable but now believes the police memorial and splash pad should be separated into distinct projects.
“I'm disappointed. I don't think we're going to have a splash pad at Jerry Ivey Park yet this year for this summer, and that was my one thing that I was concerned about when we were doing the larger project,” Hoppock said. “The splash pad is something that the community uses, and anyone can use it all income levels, everybody. It's a highly used facility.”
Hoppock suggested researching recent splash pad projects to find a more cost-effective option, ideally in the $700,000 to $800,000 range.
Commissioner Bill Longbine expressed concerns about the rushed timeline for the bid process and the overall cost, suggesting a new approach allowing multiple bids and the opportunity to reintroduce features later.
“I would like to reject this bid and rebid the project, separate the projects to what we can afford right now, to separate the projects and bid them separately, with an add alternate for the water wall and rough in the plumbing,” Longbine said. “Put this whole thing back out for bid. I'm not in favor of cutting back and getting something we'll later regret.”
Relating to the law enforcement memorial, Longbine said he would like to see the project's scope expand.
“I would like to see us expand what we already have in the plans, you know, possibly involve the Sheriff's office and Kansas Highway Patrol, I think there's money available to contribute to that and make that world class,” Longbine said.
City Manager Mike Schrage explained that the initial plan was to replace the pond with a water feature. However, as discussions evolved and the existing splash pad failed mid-season, the city combined the three elements—the splash pad, water wall, and law enforcement memorial—into one project.
Schrage said the city was confident the project could be completed within budget but, in hindsight, should have included more alternatives and add-ons in the bidding process to assess market costs better.
“Now we find ourselves on the backside of that with not a lot of flexibility unless you want to go back and redesign and rebid,” Schrage said.
Shuessler cautioned that delaying the bid process could increase costs or require further reductions to key features.
"If we rebid this, there is a concern that costs will go up, or we will have to substantially cut the plumbing and filter systems to meet the budget,” Shuessler said. “ We will work hand in hand with the city to find a solution, but the longer we delay, the more potential cost.”
The commission reviewed funding options, including pulling from the Parks Maintenance Fund, using general fund reserves, or debt financing. Each option carried trade-offs, particularly if using maintenance funds meant delaying other park projects, such as improvements at Sunset Park and baseball field lighting upgrades.
Hammond noted that similar splash pad projects in Kansas and Missouri have cost between $800,000 and over $2 million, depending on features, filtration systems, and square footage.
Several residents voiced their support of replacing the splash pad.
“I use the spray park with my grandchildren, and I think the city should focus on making sure we get something that lasts,” said Salina resident Rosemary Mai.
The commission voted 5-0 to reject the current bid and direct staff to rebid the project with additional "add alternates" to better reflect the project's scope and allow commissioners to control costs more effectively.
The revised bid with additional add alternates is expected to be returned for commission review before being reissued for bids.