Iola will pay the architectural firm advising USD 257 with its ongoing bond referendum $3,000 to help map out repairs to the flood-damaged Recreation Community Building at Riverside Park.
Mayor Jon Wells cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of hiring Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey Architecture of Wichita after City Council members were deadlocked, 3-3, on whether to offer the contract.
The rec building has been closed to the public since floodwaters inundated the building Oct. 9.
The citys insurance coverage policy through the Federal Emergency Management Agency set up following the 2007 flood brought the city a $297,000 settlement.
City officials are considering several options to replace the buildings flooring, which took the brunt of the damage.
The aim, according to Assistant Administrator City of Iola Cory Schinstock, is to find a safe, durable surface that would not need to be replaced in case of future flooding.
Its not a matter of if, but when, well get water in that building again, Schinstock said.
The gymnasium floor was covered with a vinyl surface, purported to be waterproof. However, the foam padding beneath it was not.
Once it gets wet, its impossible to dry out, Schinstock said.
The city has visited with several contractors about flooring types, but Schinstock said he and City Administrator Sid Fleming both thought it would be wise to also visit with an architect, to see what we could do with the building.
The contract will pay SJCF for 20 hours of labor, at $100 per hour, plus two site visits worth $500 apiece.
Any additional work would be billed at $95 per hour.
Councilwoman Nancy Ford, one of the three voting against hiring SJCF, spoke out against the $500 on-site visits.
These rates are very reasonable for an architect, Councilman Aaron Franklin responded.
Councilman Ron Ballard, another no vote, asked whether the city needed to hire an architect at all.
