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REGULAR MEETING JULY 25, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />There have been dollars invested over the years to do minor repair to the facilities, clearly <br />not as much as they might have liked in the past. But at some point when you are dealing <br />with 50 year old structures there is some major work that needs to be done. He stated <br />that they did look at geo-thermal heating as a possible option that would have <br />significantly increased the cost, they believe that with the heating system that they are <br />using and with the supplement heat from the research computers from Notre Dame, they <br />will have an efficient system that will be positive for the greenhouses and reduce the cost <br />of operation and maintenance as they move forward. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis asked if there was a dollar amount of the financial <br />contributions that have been made and are they any current fundraising efforts going on. <br /> <br />Phil St. Clair stated that as far as contributions go and grants he turned to Catherine <br />Hostetler, Treasurer, Botanical Society for a figure. <br /> <br />Catherine Hostetler, Treasurer, Botanical Society, advised that they had a Muessel <br />Ellison Grant from two years ago for $60,000 for upgrade of the electrical system within <br />the conservatories, they have received small donations for upgrades for the fountains and <br />pumps and various things that were totaling $500.00 - $1,000.00 here and there. This <br />year they have about $25,000.00 actually totaling in grants; in kind work, for the <br />replacement of the astro-turf in the Muessel Ellison Bldg. So outstanding there is about <br />$85,000.00 plus the smaller grants totaling around $100,000.00. Ms. Hostetler stated that <br />is just recently, initially she believes they had over $132,000.00 for the repair of the <br />curved glass in the Arizona Dome and the Muessel Ellison from glass house builders and <br />restoration that specialized in the Lord and Burnham type conservatories that they are <br />dealing with. The greenhouses, the growing houses that are falling apart and like sieves <br />that are to the east of the conservatories are not what they have been putting the money <br />into because they have fallen into disrepair and they just cannot be repaired. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis asked if this money was coming out of COIT funds. <br /> <br />Mayor Luecke advised that yes it is County Option Income Tax dollars that are being <br />requested to be appropriated. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis asked when is this going out for bid. <br /> <br />Mayor Luecke stated as soon as they can. <br /> <br />Mr. St. Clair stated that if the Council approves this bill tonight they would like to go out <br />for bid as early as the next Park Board Meeting, which is the third Monday of the Month. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis as if there was anyway that they could attach a project labor <br />agreement to this bill. <br /> <br />Mr. St. Clair stated that they will follow all the State and Local Ordinances that are <br />necessary when bids are sent out. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated that traditionally they have issues with making sure <br />that we have local workers on a certain project. As a way of making sure that they have <br />enough present, a project labor agreement usually is something that they ask for or he <br />asks for in the past to make sure that they have a certain percentage of local workers and <br />that they actually have a chance of actually working on this particular project. In the past <br />it has been 21 or 22 percent or maybe 20 percent. <br /> <br />Mr. St. Clair stated that he cannot speak for other departments, but historically the Park <br />projects have been done by local labor here in town. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis asked if the Park Department or the city is bidding out this <br />project. <br /> <br />Mr. St. Clair stated that it is the Park Board. <br /> 6 <br /> <br />