$336k clubhouse construction contract awarded

The Devine City Council unanimously awarded Greco Construction a $336,000 contract to renovate the Devine Golf Course clubhouse during the Regular meeting held last Tuesday, January 26.
Greco’s base bid was $357,000, the lowest of seven bids received, but that figure was reduced thanks to Council-approved revised alternates and value engineering designed to cut costs.
Greco has 120 days to complete work on the project once construction begins, which may be as early as this month.
“Why are we so far above what we originally discussed?” Mayor Cory Thompson asked.
GRG Architecture’s Edward Garza said part of the blame was with construction costs that had risen more in the last few months than was traditionally the case.
“I think the other part of it might be dealing with an existing building, you have a lot of unknowns, and it’s not until you open something up do you realize what’s in there,” Garza said.
The renovation price may still change after Shirl Grego of SG Golf Management brought up kitchen design changes suggested by Missy and Jerry Stevens of Charlie’s II.
“Is there a price difference compared to what’s drawn in?” Thompson asked.
“Is there going to be a price difference? Yes, there is, and it may go up, but I think some of the things will be a wash, like relocating something from here to there,” Garza said.
One suggestion was moving the walk-in cooler outside behind the clubhouse to free up space inside.
“And this outside walk-in cooler, really no different than a lot of the fast food restaurants you see around where they have them outside, so you can be locked, you can be secured, it comes plug-in ready,” Garza said.
Other suggestions included moving a three-compartment sink into a storage room and moving the location of the water heater.
“And if you move the water heater out from where it is now, you increase the cook lines,” Garza said. “Well, that’s great. And moving it is an expense, and in the end, I think it’s going to end up being a better situation for the City, because you have an operator who has another three feet or so of cook line that’s another option, that’s another service.
“More than likely moving the water heater’s an expense, moving the walk-in cooler outside’s going to be an expense, but I think it’s going to be an expense worth your while.”
The clubhouse renovation budget was initially set at $250,000 but Council approved a $342,000 plan presented by GRG Architecture in August 2020 and authorized a $450,000 tax note to fund the construction in September 2020.
As per the terms of their contract, the City has paid SG Golf Management $32,530 a month since the company took over day-to-day operations of the golf course in Jan. 2020, and will continue to do so until a turn-key renovation of the clubhouse is completed.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer