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Construction in Ashland is on schedule By TONY BOOM ASHLAND - The small-time construction dilemmas and delays that confront homeowners have been drawn in a larger scale for close to $16 million in major civic projects under way or ready to begin. Ashland's library has closed for two weeks. Original plans called for operation throughout an expansion. A new fire station won't go out to bid until early next year, later than projected. A wastewater filter plant is on schedule, but it's a "tight schedule." The library closed Oct. 29 and will reopen in a temporarily abridged form Nov. 13. "We are creating a pocket library. All services will be available. We're just reducing the size of the collection," said librarian Bob Wilson. "Its obvious they need the space," The $4.1 million expansion and renovation is expected to be finished in July or August. Completion of the new addition is expected in April or May. Then the library will relocate again for remodeling of the building's older portions. Adroit Construction of Ashland is the contractor. Expansion will add 16,000 square feet to the existing library space. The bookdrop on the front of the library is still available. Another drop at Safeway is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Library staff arrange for patrons to pick up reserve materials at other county library branches. "Its ahead of schedule and under budget," said City Administrator Greg Scoles of the library. The contract calls for completion in December 2002. Change order requests approved have totaled $25,000 so far. Change orders are common on an expansion project where the design is done without opening the old structure, Scoles added. Bids won't be sought for the new $3.1 million fire station project until after the first of the year on the recommendation of architects Peck, Smiley and Ettlin of Portland. "The architects felt that going out for bid opening just before the holidays was not a good idea," said Ashland fire Chief Keith Woodley. Fire crews will move to a temporary building at the city's B Street yard in late January or early February. The current building at Siskiyou Boulevard and East Main Street will then be demolished. Construction should take about 12 months. Occupancy is expected in spring of 2003. A building for a filter system at the wastewater treatment plant is about 35 percent complete. Slayden Construction is doing the work, which is on schedule and within the $6.5 million budget so far. "It is a very tight schedule and is projected to be completed by May 2002," said Public Works Director Paula Brown. The system is required by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The city faces a summer deadline to reduce phosphorus content in wastewater that is release into Bear Creek. A $1.9 million remodel of the former Hillah Temple building, which will house the city's public works and planning departments, is expected to go to bid in November. An appeal of the project's approval to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals had delayed the bid process. Former Councilman Brent Thompson's appeal was rejected by the board in August. He contended the project violated city principles against urban sprawl. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail tboom@mailtribune.com |
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