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John “Jack” Helin
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TAB 5
The Chieftain (Bonner Springs, KS)
May 12, 2005
City Officials Still Seeking Pool Numbers
Author: Clark Corbin
Bonner Springs officials did not learn quite as much as they had hoped about the specifics of the
aquatic facility project during a meeting with a contractor Tuesday.
Bonner Springs City Manager John Helin, Kevin McElyea, an official with Aquatic Design, the
firm that designed the pool project and rendered the $3.5 million estimate, and Bill Sims,
McPherson Contractors' vice president met Tuesday morning at City Hall. The meeting was a
follow up session to the group's May 3 meeting that was held to discuss negotiations options for
constructing the facility.
McPherson submitted a roughly $4.7 million bid to city officials April 22 to construct the
project. On May 2, City Council members convened for a special meeting and directed Helin
and McElyea to meet with McPherson at the negotiating table to find a middle ground.
Following Tuesday's meeting, Helin said details he had hoped to learn were not discussed. "We
asked him to go back and get some hard numbers by the 20th (of May)," Helin said. "We are
looking for the last, best offer."
Helin said Sims' company only produced less specific "soft numbers" during Tuesday's meeting.
Ideally, the city manager said, Bonner Springs officials want to know what specific measures can
be taken to save specific dollar amounts and bring the project's bill down to the estimated
construction cost of $3.2 million. As of Tuesday, the bill was not down to $3.2 million and Helin
said it would be difficult to estimate where the negotiators sit in terms of dollars and cents
because of the abstract nature of details provided.
During the May 2 Council meeting it became apparent that the finished product could vary from
artists' renderings Aquatic Design issued. Certainly some of the "bells and whistles," such as a
third water slide and a children's "sprayground" will get the ax. Additionally, some components
of the project could be tweaked to save costs.
However, priorities in regards to the pool became a little clearer this week. "We are trying to
hold the line on the aquatic facility itself and what it has to offer," Helin said. Helin said the
negotiators will fight for major components of the base project, such as constructing two
waterslides. Other, more cosmetic features such as the materials used in surfaces inside the
changing rooms could become bargaining tokens meant to drive the cost down.
However, the negotiators' actions and the firm's proposal in no way dictate officially what the
finished product will look like. City Council members, during an as-yet-undetermined future
meeting will be able to approve or deny any proposal.
Throughout the negotiating process, Helin said his team will do what it can to bring the best
possible pool package to Bonner Springs. "I think we are open to multiple options," he said. "The
intent is to try to get the best possible facility for $3.2 million."
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