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Five-year-old Robe-Ann bandshell now in need of $23,000 in repairs
The new bandshell at Robe-Ann Park, unveiled in 2019, is in need of more than $20,000 in repairs, the Greencastle Park Board was told Wednesday night.
The roof is leaking and some of the siding at the back of the structure was blown off in the recent high winds experienced locally, Park Director Greg Ruark explained.
A local contractor and an Amish roofer looked at it recently, Ruark added, and came away “very disappointed with how the construction went.”
Ruark added: “They think there are some serious issues with the building,” constructed five years ago by Spiker Excavating and Contractors, a now-defunct local business.
“That’s a lot for a roof,” board member Doug Hutchison said, looking at a $23,500 estimate from Energy Conservation Solutions, including $18,200 for the roof repairs and $5,240 for painting and restaining the structure.
“How it (the roof) was put up there is the issue,” Ruark said. “There’s a right way and a wrong way to do it and this is the wrong way.”
Park Board President Cathy Merrell was disappointed at the idea of having to repair the bandshell so soon in its existence.
“It’s such a proud thing to have in our park,” she said, noting its position just beyond the main entrance to Robe-Ann Park and serves as a landmark for people to meet. “We definitely want to fix it but that’s a lot of money.”
Park Board member Tim Trigg suggested that bidding out the work might result in a better price.
Meanwhile, Ruark was asked if rust was the issue with the metal roof.
“It’s not the rust,” he said. “It’s how the seams were put together and all that.”
Hutchison was concerned that letting the problem linger might result in more damage.
“Do we need to put something up there so it doesn’t get any worse?” he asked. “At some point we’re going to get some spring rain.”
Trigg estimated it would likely be a two- or three-day project, while Hutchison suggested it’s not really a situation where there is a need to close down the bandshell except during construction work.
The final tally on construction of the bandshell was $165,000 with the city’s out-of-pocket share being $65,000, which included the cost of rectifying the drainage on the ground in front of the bandshell. The other $100,000 came from grants and donations and fundraisers, including a $50,000 grant from the Greencastle Civic League.
No actual decision was made on the repair work Wednesday. It is expected that Ruark will secure more estimates before any work proceeds.
Meanwhile, Ruark announced that he expects the Park Board to be able to vote on a contractor at its June meeting for demolition of the old park house at 405 Bloomington St.
City Building Commissioner Pat Thibodeau helped prepare a scope of work document on the demolition work, citing that all related work shall be completed no later than June 30.
The scope of work has two bid options: One that includes partial removal of the foundation/subgrade slab and the other that includes full removal of the foundation/subgrade slab.
Board President Merrell and members Trigg, Hutchison and Joanna Muncie were in attendance for the 40-minute meeting at the park office at Robe-Ann.
The next regularly scheduled Park Board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 at the park office.