Council considers repairs to park building roofs

The Hope Town Council is investigating repairs to the roof of the shelterhouse and bandstand in the Town Square.

At a special council work session last week, town officials say that the roofs are in bad shape and they don't feel the town can rely on unpredictable grant funding to get the work done. Instead, they are looking at possible funding from Economic Development Income Tax dollars set aside for city projects and park funds. They fear that the cost could approach $50,000 if they were to replace the existing cedar shake style roof with a similar material. 

Councilman Jerry Bragg and Ed Johnson urged the council to consider a metal roof for the shelterhouse. Although it wouldn't look as historically appropriate, it would last significantly longer and be much cheaper, Bragg estimated.

"I used to do construction and for that location and with all those trees, I would go metal, I wouldn't even think about putting shingles on it -- I really wouldn't," Bragg said. 

A single fallen limb could severely damage a shingle roof, but would barely dent a metal roof, he said. He said that he suspects the job will require a completely new deck for the roof.

Council President Ohmer Miller suggested the council look into a hybrid roof that appears as cedar shakes but is in reality a metal roof.

Councilman Clyde Compton said he had been told there are places in the roof where you can already look straight through to see the sky. Johnson concurred that was the case in the attic area.

"Something has to be done, and it looks like it is going to be done by us," Compton. He also suggested that it might be necessary to budget the project over more than on year, depending on cost and availability of funds. 

"The sooner the better, because if it is that bad up in the roof, it is going to be a shame if we put sidewalks in and... the shelterhouse rots to the ground," Compton said.

Although council members said they would like to do both buildings together to save on setup and manpower costs, they also would like to receive bids for each building separately in case only one could be afforded. 

Town Attorney Scott Andrews said that the town's legal requirements for seeking bids begin to kick in at $50,000. If the project is estimated to cost more than $50,000, it would require advertising for bidders and receiving at least three responses. It would also require a more formal process for receiving and opening bids.

Council members said they would also consider finding a way to entice community members to donate toward the projects. Ideas that were tossed out included a form of commemorative plaque or brick such as were used to fund the clock on the Town Square.

Councilman Johnson, who has a background in construction, said he would take the lead on getting estimates and finding bidders for the project.