By Michael V. Hannigan/HCNow
Cain Center sticker shock set in for the Athens City Council Monday night and along with it, some second thoughts.
Council members held an hour-long discussion with members of the Cain Center construction and design team during their regular meeting and heard an estimated total price — AFTER some engineering cuts — of about $8.5 million.
That pricetag is significantly higher than any projection to date and reflects just how much mechanical and electrical systems in the Cain Center have deteriorated over the years, according to construction officials.
The news seemed to hit the council hard.
“This has ballooned to the point of absurdity,” said Councilman Edward McCain. “We can’t afford it.”
Council members called for a special workshop meeting (likely next week) to discuss how to move forward with the Cain Center project.
The City took over the Cain Center last year and announced the plan was to “permanently relocate its administrate services to the Cain Center, including the Police Department and Fire/Rescue Administration. In addition, the City will consider improvements to the recreational uses at the facility, including a complete overhaul of the Cain Center pool.”
McCain and Mayor Monte Montgomery went on the record last month saying they didn’t feel there would be enough money left after the Cain Center construction to build a police department, but even they didn’t project the price to be has high as was estimated this week.
In December 2016, the City Council approved issuing certificates of obligation to raise about $12.1 million, $10.5 million of which was earmarked for the Cain Center and police department project.
McCain and Montgomery have said they believe any money left over from the Cain Center project should be used on needed repairs for the wastewater system.
If the estimate is $8.5 million and they designated $10.5 million, why can’t they afford it?
Because the $10.5 million was supposed to be for the Cain Center and a Police Station … Even if they didn’t have enough to do the police station they were hoping to have a substantial amount to put into the wastewater system, but the Cain Center is millions higher than anticipated.
I would like to see the Cain Center resume as a health facility. We were very lucky to have this multiple culture center. It was used by many organizations, families as well as individuals.
It seems like due diligence was absent here from the beginning. You always prepare for the worst and go from there. Like most city projects in Athens, I see a total lack of foresight and a council who listened to a city manager who had other agendas. The citizens of Athens will continue to foot the bill for incompetence in our elected leaders maybe time for the good ol boy system to go away and give new blood and fresh ideas to come forward.
Amen. Thank you.