MOORESVILLE — In recent months, the Mooresville Parks System has been working on preparing for major upgrades at Pioneer Park.

During the Feb. 12 Mooresville Park Board meeting, members approved Meyer Najem as the system’s contractor to work on the project.

Mayer Najem is also the company leading the Morgan County justice center construction at the county seat in Martinsville.

The board has decided to go with the build-operate-transfer (BOT) method to construct the project, which will allow the parks to only need to work with Meyer Najem and keep the cost of the project down.

According to Mooresville Parks Superintendent Phil Cornelius, Meyer Najem was the only company that submitted a proposal to the parks department.

“There were other parties that had at least done initial reach-out contact, but at the point of the deadline, only one had submitted on time,” Cornelius said.

Cornelius told the board that park staff is supportive of Meyer Najem being awarded the BOT contract for the Pioneer Park updates.

Board member Brent Callahan asked what the timeline of the project would be if the board accepts the proposal. “Part of their proposal, there is no up-front fee, it is a zero cost to this board, and this department and town for the scoping period,” Cornelius said.

The scope of work, Cornelius said, would be identified by Mayand a groundbreaking for the project would occur in either late May or early June, “with completion in 2025,” Cornelius said.

Callahan asked if the Mooresville Redevelopment Commission (RDC) or town council would have to approve anything before the project could move forward.

The RDC has dedicated $3.15million of its funds to the project.

“Once we go through this process, scoping period is done, final total project cost has been established, and we award — if we chose to move forward and award the project … that is when we come to RDC, as per our reimbursement agreement, that we have elected to move forward with the build-operate-transfer and it is at this dollar amount,” Cornelius said. “At that point, they would then transfer the funds allotted to then hold in a fund until the completion of the project.”

He went on to note that the town council would not be involved “in any current financial components.”

The scoping period, Cornelius added, would allow the parks to see how much the $3.15 million from the RDC and the park system’s cash-on-hand can go toward the construction at the park. “We’ve kind of identified that $4 million range for this project, and that is including our park’s cash on hand, which we have previously already received a vote in favor from town council to spend down our capital non-reverting fund to $0 to deplete that fund with this project,” Cornelius said. “So, we have received all current approval from town council needed, unless it is identified after the scoping in total project costs that we are over that threshold.”

By using the BOT method, the parks department will only need to work with Meyer Najem on the project, as opposed to working with several different companies.

Meyer Najem may need to hire sub-contractors for the work, but the parks would only deal with Meyer Najem officials.

“With this project, there are no change orders,” Cornelius said. “Basically, the only change orders come to this project is from us, staff and this board.”

A change order is a change in the project that occurs after work has started and can often increase the overall cost of a project.

“This gives (assistant superintendent) Keelan (Simpson) and I one person to call, versus 15,” Cornelius said.

The board voted unanimously, 7-0, to move forward with Meyer Najem for the project.

~ By Lance Gideon | Reporter | Published February 22, 2024 in The Morgan County Correspondent