West Lake Park to get a new boathouse
Deirdre Cox Baker
A new boathouse will be constructed next to the beach at West Lake Park and officials hope to begin work on the project this month.
The Scott County Conservation Board has approved a bid of $236,836 from Brus Construction, Blue Grass, Iowa, to build the new facility that will house amenities like the concession stand, boat rental area and restrooms.
The project is getting a quick start because the former structure has been demolished and officials hope to have a new one in place for the summer season. This was the second bid from Brus and five other contractors. Bids on the original plans from the project's designer — Burbach Aquatics of Platteville, Wis. — came in last month more than $100,000 over the board's $250,000 budget.
Board Director Roger Kean said some items were tweaked in the original plans. The deck size is smaller, treated lumber will be used to make it instead of recycled plastic, the roofline was simplified and modifications made to the foundation design.
"These are all minor things," he said. "We just took out the high-priced items."
Board Chairman Leone Bredbeck was concerned about the building's appearance with the modifications, but Kean assured board members during their December meeting that the changes will be mainly unnoticeable.
He said the contractor will try to pour foundation footings if the ground dries out in the next few weeks. But, he warned, the building may not be completed for the beach's traditional Memorial Day weekend opening.
Board members noted that Chad Brus of Brus Construction, the winning bidder, has ably completed a number of projects in the county's park system. "He's done good work for us in the past," Richard Mohr said.
The beach at West Lake Park was built in 1980 and for the first few years attracted a trendy, high-energy crowd. But attendance dropped off as the legal drinking age increased and is now at about 15,000 a year.
Conservation board members contracted with Burbach Aquatics to re-style the facility with the boathouse construction as a first step. The project continues next year as the board plans to spend an additional $150,000 on interior work and amenities such as shade screens, tables and play toys to appeal to families who now make up the bulk of its patrons.
Deirdre Cox Baker can be contacted at (563) 383-2492 or dbaker@qctimes.com.