City Council may decide on aquatics center today

Adjustments by engineers, contractors and city staff have lessened the cost of a new aquatics center planned for Elmer Thomas Park.

City Council members will get a look at the proposed changes today as they weigh a decision to award a construction contract to Miller-Tippens Construction Company, the only firm to submit a bid to build what city officials say will include a lap pool, diving boards, group slide, support buildings and parking lot for a facility to be built in Elmer Thomas Park, near Playground in the Park. The bid also a lazy river as an alternate.

The council got its first look at the project and bids earlier this month, with members ultimately delaying a decision for two weeks while city staff worked with the contractor to review bid categories and identify potential savings. The issue is total cost: Miller-Tippens’ bid was $2 million higher than the architectural estimate of $12.24 million for the base bid and $5.2 million for the lazy river. The firm’s base bid was $14.6 million, with $5.3 million for the lazy river.

City staff said a meeting helped lower the total cost to $19.1 million (it had been $19.9 million), and architects with Guernsey recommended the bid be awarded to Miller-Tippens, contingent upon identification of funds. The project is to be funded through the Capital Improvements Program, according to the agenda commentary.

Cost savings come from allowing the City of Lawton to do the paving and sidewalk work ($644,544), removing the air conditioner from the bathhouse ($118,742) and changing the structure for the concession stand to wood studs ($149,280). Council members also indicated they are willing to remove the liquidated damages provision if the contractor misses the mid-May 2025 deadline for completion.

Council members have said they want the facility operational by Summer 2025, and Miller-Tippens said that timetable was possible if the contract was awarded this month so work could begin in early August. That timeline is the reason Guernsey recommended the project be awarded now, rather than rebid. Not only would rebidding the project delay the opening until 2026, there is no guarantee Lawton would get more bidders or Miller-Tippens would submit a new bid.

In another building-related project, the council will receive a presentation from GH2 Architects LLC on conceptual designs for a new animal welfare adoption center. The work would include renovations for the existing facility, located on the south side of the Public Works complex in south Lawton.

The project has been discussed by city staff for years, as officials made plans to expand a facility that now contains everything from kennels and adoption center, to veterinarian’s office. The plan has been to build an adoption center adjacent to the main complex while also renovating the aging main structure.

Funding for the project is expected to come from the 2040 Capital Improvements Program that city voters will decide Aug. 27. That proposal designates $5 million for the animal shelter, and dog parks in other areas of Lawton.

In other business, the council will consider accepting a conditional grant of $125,000 from the Opioid Abatement Board, with funding to be used in partnership with the Comanche County Health Department. City Manager John Ratliff said the award is contingent upon the city submitting a revised plan and budget, removing funding allocated to law enforcement activities because those categories were rejected by the board.

The proposal now specifies funds would be used for preventive education and collaboration. A separate agenda item outlining an agreement between the City of Lawton and the health department identifies specific programs, strategies and services: Bridges Out of Poverty; mental health training for stakeholders; work with at-risk youth through school-based education programs; partnership with stakeholders to distribute naloxone kits; collaborate with healthcare providers to coordinate training for responsible prescribing practices; partner with stakeholders to educate chronic pain patients about alternative pain management strategies; and partner with trainers to provide naloxone training, overdose recognition and education.