The sixth phase of the Three Notch Trail project is running more than three-quarters of a million dollars over budget. The St. Mary’s County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to move monies from several projects to cover the shortfall. The phase extends the trail through Mechanicsville village.
The commissioners’ decision involves moving $465,000 from three budgeted items: Nicolet Park pedestrian pathway, replacement of ball field fencing at parks, and paving at Cecil Park. St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks Director Brian Loewe told the commissioners in a memo, “However, it would be our intention that as and when the contingency can be reduced or eliminated, it would be transferred back to one of the three projects…”
Loewe said if the monies aren’t found for the three projects in the current fiscal year then “staff will evaluate and reprioritize the Recreational Facilities Park Improvement projects during the FY 16 CIP budget process and request that the funding be restored…”
St. Mary’s County Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R” 3rd) categorized the shifting of money: “Robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
The shortfall also led the commissioners to shift $353,240 from the capital reserve account to the trail project, however the county hopes that portion of the shortfall will be covered by a grant.
The low bid for the sixth phase was $2,852,000 versus a net total estimate of $2,634,442. But other costs bring the total needed for the project to $3.4 million. Those costs include: project management; additional trees, fencing, and hazard beacons; inspection; and a contingency.
Several commissioners expressed concern that the engineer’s cost estimate was so far off for the project, similar to what happened with the proposed detention center expansion.
Commissioner Daniel Morris (R: 2nd) said he wanted to find an answer to why the estimate was so different from the bid. “We have to find a way to correct this,” Commissioner Todd Morgan (R: 4th) said.
Chief Financial Officer Elaine Kramer said they would seek answers to the commissioners’ concerns.
The trail project has considerable federal and state dollars associated with it. Sources for design and construction are: Transportation Enhancement program ($1,435,360); National Recreational Trails ($120,000); Program Open Space ($185,000); Maryland Heritage Areas Authority ($136,877); and Maryland Bikeways ($470,180). The commissioners unanimously agreed to add the additional county dollars to preserve all of that outside money going into the project.
The sixth phase consists of five miles of trail from MD Route 5 to MD Route 246 in Mechanicsville. Loewe described the phase as the “missing link” that provides the long-awaited trail connection between Charlotte Hall and Laurel Grove.