Williams Park, located at the corner of Pine and Ohio streets in Marquette, is pictured. The Marquette City Commission on Monday approved a $16,500 contract for design and construction oversight services from GEI Consultants for the athletic court renovation and universal access project. (Journal photo by Cecilia Brown)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette City Commission at its meeting Monday unanimously approved a professional services contract with GEI Consultants for design and construction oversight of the Williams Park athletic court renovation and Americans with Disabilities Act access project.

Commissioners Jenn Hill and Paul Schloegel were absent and excused from the meeting.

The contract, in the amount of $16,500, will allow the Marquette-based GEI Consultants to provide design and construction oversight of the project at the park, which is located at the corner of Pine and Ohio streets in Marquette.

“GEI has proved to be a competent and professional project manager with past city developments and we are very confident that they will be successful with this Williams Park project,” said Commissioner Dave Campana, who made the motion to approve the contract.

At the commission’s June 10 meeting, it approved GEI Consultants’ bid for design and construction oversight of the project, as the firm was “offering the most services for the least cost,” city notes from the June 10 meeting state.

With the proposal approved, the commission directed city attorney Ron Keefe to develop the professional services agreement approved at Monday’s meeting.

The project stems from the commission’s authorization in March 2017 of a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant application for the renovation of the three tennis courts and one basketball court, as well as the construction of “accessible routes within the park,” city notes state.

“I like the fact that they’re adding ADA access … it was always hard to have ADA access to it because of the way it was built, so I’m glad they’re helping to allow ADA access to it,” Commissioner Pete Frazier said.

In December, the city received an executed grant agreement from the state, with the grant award being $112,000 with a match requirement of $48,000. Of the $48,000 local match, the Marquette Tennis Association will provide $40,000 of the funding, with the city having an $8,000 general fund obligation, city notes state.

The total project budget of $160,000, which is budgeted for and “within the expected cost for professional services,” includes both design and construction services, city notes state.

A suggested timeline indicates a final plan for the project is expected to be delivered in August, followed by bid construction, with the commission aiming to approve a construction contract by late August. The project is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year, city notes state.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is cbrown@miningjournal.net.