City's control board to consider 26 change orders for new arena

With more increases than reductions, the 26 requests total $210,682.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's board of control will consider 26 change orders -- 19 for additional money and seven for cost reductions -- to the downtown convocation center.
The board will meet at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to consider the change orders that total $210,682.
The change orders involve four of the arena's major contractors:
UBruce & amp; Merilees Electric, the New Castle, Pa., company handling the facility's electrical and electric service panel work. The company is requesting 11 change orders; six add to the cost, and five reduce it, with a net cost increase of $103,948.
UOhio Steel Industries, the Columbus-based company providing structural steel for the project. All seven change orders from the company are for additions, and total $62,703.
URoger Kreps Drywall and Plastering, the Boardman company handling the installation of metal paneling and drywall. The company is seeking four change orders; three add to the cost and one reduces it for a net cost increase of $34,815.
UD & amp;G Mechanical, the West Middlesex, Pa., company hired as the mechanical contractor. The company is seeking three increases and one decrease that, overall, would increase its cost by $9,216.
Financial situation
All change orders must be approved by the board of control.
The proposed $210,682 worth of change orders won't increase the cost of the convocation center because there is a $1 million contingency built into the facility's budget for such situations, city officials said. Most recent change orders for the facility approved by the board of control have reduced its cost.
The board also is expected to consider three purchases Thursday for the arena:
UForty bicycle rack barricades for crowd control from Friedrich's Custom Manufacturing of New Orleans for $3,915.
UA commercial washer and dryers from Belenky Inc. of Akron, $11,253.
UAdditional security measures including motion sensors and panic buttons from Vector Securities of Boardman, $1,750.
The convocation center is expected to be finished by late October. The arena's projected construction cost is $45.38 million.
City council approved a plan Aug. 18 to allow the city to borrow up to $15.5 million to make up a projected funding gap. City Finance Director David Bozanich expects to borrow $12 million to $12.5 million.
The center is expected to net $1.15 million in its first year, based on projections by its manager, and any profits first go to pay off the city's debt.
Other considerations
Also at Thursday's meeting, the board of control will consider requests to provide grants for exterior improvements to three businesses. Companies pay 60 percent of the improvement costs, and the city pays the rest with federal funds under its fa & ccedil;ade renovation program.
Windhaven House, which provides living facilities and a variety of services to about 30 to 40 elderly and physically or mentally disabled adults at two buildings on Glenwood Avenue, is seeking $14,500 from the board.
Briels Flowers Inc., a florist on South Belle Vista Avenue, wants $9,098 from the board of control, and Fireline Inc., an Andrews Avenue company that manufactures materials that can withstand intense heat used on products ranging from jewelry to engines, is seeking $6,180.
skolnick@vindy.com