McEuen storm brewin'

COEUR d'ALENE - The McEuen Park reconstruction project has fallen behind schedule, but Mayor Steve Widmyer said city staff and the contractors are working to get it back on track for a May opening.

At one point, Widmyer said contractors said McEuen may not open until the first of July.

"That is just unacceptable," Widmyer said.

Widmyer and city staff will be meeting with Contractors Northwest, Inc. and the Miller Stauffer Architects in the next few days to discuss scenarios to get the project back on track.

City Engineer Gordon Dobler said the contractor is having a difficult time scheduling subcontractors, which has set them back from delivering the park to the city on the contractual May 2 deadline. Dobler said that date may be extended slightly due to extreme weather, but otherwise the city will hold them to their agreement.

"I think they are also concerned about how the weather may affect construction this spring," Widmyer said, adding a long delay could impact many downtown events such as Ironman and Car d'Lane.

"Right now both Gordon (Dobler) and Phil Boyd (Welch Comer Engineering) are putting together a proposal to get the contractors back on schedule," Widmyer said.

CNI is also working with its subcontractors to figure out how to accomplish the May opening as well, Dobler said. Brian Taylor, of CNI, did not return a phone message on Wednesday.

Widmyer said it is important for the city to accomplish the opening on time and on budget to maintain its credibility. The fact that Front Street didn't open in November as scheduled - and now this - could erode the public's confidence in the city's ability manage large projects, he added.

"It is a credibility issue, when we are potentially looking at future projects like the four corners area," he said. "We want to have the public behind us on that, which is hard when stuff like this happens."

As for being on budget, Widmyer said he has been told that the only increase to the $20.2 million project is the new portion of the project that is designed to close Front Avenue between Second and Third streets.

"But that portion will be paid for by the Hagadone Corporation," Widmyer said, adding the city will have to increase the overall contract amount, but it won't have to pay for the additional work.

"Technically it is a budget increase, but it doesn't increase the amount of money the city will pay," Widmyer said.