Airway Heights City Council picks ALSC, Lydig

It’s official — the city of Airway Heights’ recreation center project has its design-build team.

During its June 5 meeting, City Council approved the selection of Lydig Construction & ALSC Architects as the designer/builder for the project. Council also authorized City Manager Albert Tripp to execute the DBIA agreement and issue a notice to proceed on the project.

The recommendation to select Lydig and ALSC came from the project’s evaluation committee after it scored the team’s management proposal.

ALSC/Lydig was one of two finalists for the project, along with ORB Architects and Absher Construction. Both groups presented basic concepts of the recreation center and were interviewed by the committee on May 18. Later that evening, they displayed preliminary concepts at an open house where they also took feedback from residents, staff and stakeholders.

In their requests for proposals, both teams created a preliminary design that included program elements, concepts and site improvements to the project with the funds they have.

The criteria included overall management approach, design concept and technical approach, project control, cost tracking and guaranteed maximum price management.

Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director J.C. Kennedy explained that ALSC/Lydig’s proposal included approximately 6,000 additional building space and presented a layout of the Deno Road entrance to the facility that would accommodate large vehicles and a mandatory fire lane.

“When it came to the last interview, they rose to the top, Kennedy said of ALSC/Lydig’s proposal.

In staff reports, City Manager Albert Tipp said City Hall received feedback from residents regarding backflow and water rates. To protect the city’s water system from possible backflow of contaminated water from private property, the city installed a backflow assembly in each house. Tripp said the city charges a $15 recording fee for the backflow.

Tripp said residents have asked if the city would consider a rate adjustment or a discount on their water bill and backflow fee for the period of time during the water restriction.

Public Works Director Kevin Anderson informed council that staff met with FEMA to review road improvement projects that could be paid with emergency federal funds due to the winter storm and flooding that occurred in January and February. The funds would pay to fix portions of Craig Road, Lundstrom and Lyons streets 12th and 17th Avenues that were damaged. The current total project estimates are approximately $186,000.

If FEMA approves the projects, it would fund 75 percent and the city would pay a 25 percent match — approximately $42,000 — though there is the state Transportation Improvement Board that could provide half of the city’s match.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].