Larry Snyder & Co. to build Carl Junction center

Springfield-based general contractor Larry Snyder & Co. submitted the low bid to build the new Carl Junction Community Center.

Voters approved a $4.4 million bond issue in April 2007 to finance the 22,800-square-foot community center, which will be built north of the fire station and near the new police station.

Steve Lawver, Carl Junction city administrator, said the winning bid was $3.84 million and includes four of the five alternate addendums that the city had requested from the architectural drawings, including a north canopy for Meals on Wheels, a lobby ceiling and expanded parking.

Original estimates from the architectural renderings indicated that the project would cost more than $4.3 million, but Lawver said the bidding contractors found ways to save up to $500,000.

"It's been a very arduous process for the city and staff," said Kristi Beattie with Sapp Design Associates, which drew up the renderings for the project. "We had a very solid set of drawings that have been changed only slightly."

The new community center will serve as a new senior center, recreation center and city hall. The current city hall at 800 E. Pennell Ave. was donated to the city in 1999. Another building that was also by the municipal court and police department was destroyed in a May 2003 tornado.

The new center will feature a gym and indoor walking track, aerobics fitness rooms, and large meeting rooms for local organizations.

Carl Junction City Council plans to award a contract for construction at its Jan. 20 meeting. The project is scheduled to be complete by December.

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