3 days ago
Monticello approves $7.5M Oberheim Park contract
MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — A major multi-million dollar project is officially on track to start in Piatt County.
The Monticello City Council passed a contract agreement with an Illinois-based construction company at Monday night's meeting.
PREVIOUSLY: Plans moving forward for estimated $8 million Oberheim Park in Monticello
It'll start building Phase One of the Oberheim Park complex as soon as next month. It would go in an open field by Route 47 and Green Apple Lane.
The price tag came out to $7.5 million, and it officially gets the project to the start coming from the city's general fund and reserves.
'Getting a shovel in the dirt has been a long time coming,' said City Administrator Terry Summers.
Now that ground-breaking has a start date, the 35-acres on the west side of Monticello will soon be home to Oberheim Park.
'[It'll include] two baseball/softball fields, four youth soccer fields and a multipurpose field,' Summers added.
Monday night's city council meeting approved a $7.5 million dollar agreement to break ground by July 1st of this year. The original agreement was for $7.1 million, but the board amended it on Monday to also pay for replacing the plan's asphalt with concrete.
SEE ALSO: Monticello moves forward with Oberheim Park plans
The board says it came down to getting more bang for their buck in the long term.
'Whereas concrete is going to be a little more upfront in cost, a little longer to install, harder to repair, but it's going to be more pivotal down the road,' said Alderman Ryan Woodham.
And it could just be the start for the park. Summers said the city has the flexibility to add further phases and amenities into the future.
'I think the residents want to see some movement out there,' Summers said. 'And I think once you start to see the improvements and start utilizing those improvements and those quality of life amenities, I think there'll be more interest in the park and more interest in possible future phases.'
The approval Monday night is expected to fast-track this project, with construction beginning next month and aiming to be mostly complete by next summer.
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