Jefferson County's effort to repair the rusted structure of Memorial Athletic Field's grandstand and replace its roof is within budget and nearly complete, said project manager Gordon Ramstrom.

Grandstand seating and restrooms are expected to be open to the public in time for the 80th Rhododendron Festival to use the field for its carnival attractions, May 14-16, he said.

“We're at that point where we're completing the project,” Ramstrom said Monday, April 27. “We still have [grandstand-mounted] field lighting to install and haven't yet had a required electrical inspection.”

Ramstrom, an architectural projects planner with the county's Public Works Department, said the inspection would be done before Rhody, but lights would likely be mounted afterward.

Work began Jan. 26 and has included cleaning and repainting columns, purlins, frames, base plates, turnbuckles and bracing rods, as well as replacing roof and wind-guard paneling, and pouring new concrete at the base of several columns and filling pressure-caused cracks in the concrete grandstand with epoxy.

PROJECT COST

Considering Sequim contractor Primo Construction's low bid of $299,399.88, plus staff time and a 10 percent contingency cost, the project's budget comes to $365,839.87.

New gutters have been added to the grandstand, costing $7,270 to purchase and install.

“The project has remained within budget and on schedule despite the new gutters,” said Ramstrom, noting the contractor had until July to complete the work. “We will get better distribution of storm water with these gutters. It's also a city building requirement in the plumbing code.”

The project relies on what remains of Port Townsend's portion of Proposition 1 sales tax revenue, $145,000, which is earmarked for capital improvements to Memorial Field and the Port Townsend Community Center. It also pulls $79,508 from the county's special projects fund and $25,000 from its parks improvement fund.

On Dec. 1, 2014, county commissioners voted 2-1 to contribute the remainder, some $116,333, from the county's general fund.

On April 27, the commissioners approved transfer of those funds, totaling $220,841 from their respective accounts to a construction and renovation account, officially covering the project's full cost.

BACKGROUND

City of Port Townsend officials closed the grandstand May 20, 2014 after receiving a Port Angeles engineer's report recommending the steel roof structure, built in 1972, be condemned and eventually removed. The field was used for summer events, and the 2014 Port Townsend High School football and girls' soccer seasons, with the grandstands being off-limits.

The PTHS spring boys' soccer home games were played at H.J. Carroll Park in Chimacum; Memorial Field was in use for soccer on May 4 and May 6.