News Release 375

DEPARTMENT WILL ACT AS CONTRACTOR FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF JOHNSON'S SHUT-INS STATE PARK

Volume 36-375

Contact: Sue Holst

(For immediate release)

573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 25, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today that it will exercise its right to act as contractor for the construction and redevelopment of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville. 

In making the announcement, Doyle Childers, department director, cited the cost of previous projects in the park and cost estimates of key future projects, including the park orientation center. "We believe by taking over the redevelopment of the park and working directly with Ameren, we can save money and do a better job of staying within the budget outlined in the settlement," he said. The 2008 Consent Judgment specifically authorizes the department to take over certain tasks and act as the contractor.  

Following the Taum Sauk Reservoir breach in December 2005 that extensively damaged Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, AmerenUE hired MACTEC, an engineering and consulting company based in Atlanta, Ga., to complete the environmental cleanup, planning and development of the park. After Ameren's settlement with the state in November 2007 and the 2008 Consent Judgment, MACTEC continued its contract with Ameren for construction and redevelopment of the park.

“We recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of the people who brought the park to this point in the recovery efforts,” Childers said.  “However, after seeing the latest cost estimates, we realize the park can’t be completed without major changes.  We are going to evaluate the best way to move forward and anticipate a vigorous construction effort after the park closes this fall.”

Childers explained that during the environmental cleanup of the park, Ameren was responsible for all costs. Once the settlement was signed, the state began to share responsibility for costs and had a fixed budget of $52 million to fund all the construction, redevelopment and other responsibilities agreed to in the settlement. Only a portion of that money remains, and several major elements in the redevelopment remain to be completed, including the orientation center, the park superintendent’s residence and the campground.  

The decision to take over redevelopment came following the opening of bids for the park's new orientation center. The total costs for the building, including MACTEC's administrative costs, would be around $400 per square foot. Childers said the overhead is higher than the department is accustomed to paying. 

"I believe most hard-working Missourians will agree with our position that spending $400 a square foot on a public building is not an acceptable cost. We have a responsibility to be wise stewards of the settlement money set aside to rebuild this popular park,” Childers said. By exercising its option to take over contracting of the projects, the department can reduce the overhead costs charged for the projects

The estimated costs of other projects that raised a concern were $460,000 for the 1,700-square-foot residence, and $375,000 for the 1.5-acre pond in the new campground. Taking over the contracting will allow the department to require a fixed price on any projects.

Once the department takes over redevelopment of the park, the first step will be to meet with contractors and see how costs can be reduced while still producing a quality product. Instead of one large project, the redevelopment of the park may be broken down into several smaller projects that could be bid individually. "Missouri contractors can do a good job for Missouri citizens,” Childers said. “We want to see what they can do, and we welcome them to get involved and bid on this unique opportunity to restore the park so Missourians can continue to enjoy it for generations to come.  We anticipate a number of different contracts will be available for Missouri contractors and workers on this project.” 

With the state now responsible for the bidding, the process will be transparent and open to the public process and scrutiny. Childers also confirmed that the state will pay prevailing wage for work involved with the redevelopment.  The Department of Natural Resources will also collect the names and phone numbers of local workers already working at the park to share with Missouri contractors who bid on the project.

"We are committed to rebuilding Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park and once again provide an outstanding resource to the people of Missouri. We realize this could delay the final completion date of the park, but the end result will be better control of the financial outcome and the ability to ensure that the park can be developed as outlined in the settlement agreement," Childers said.   

Childers added that the department is committed to opening the park for limited day use, including swimming in the shut-ins, in summer 2009. 

###