Rebuilding scout cabin is building interest

Creston Girl Scouts and its supporters may be putting the cart before the horse when it comes to the restoration of a nearly 100-year-old cabin in McKinley Park, which Creston Parks and Recreation board voted to remove during its December meeting.

Since that meeting, supporters of the restoration project have come forward to the park and rec board and city council, and made appeals to the public via social media and television. Many have shared fond memories of scout activities at the cabin on Facebook. Some have offered financial contributions or committed donations of labor and materials.

Two estimates for work have also been received, which were shared Tuesday by Tara Kinkade during the board’s regular meeting.

Kinkade, who originally approached city council Jan. 4 about the interest in the cabin’s restoration, said two bids have been received. Berry Bros. Masonry quoted $18,000 for concrete work, and Feldhacker Contracting quoted $33,000 for the entire project, not including the roof.

Parks and Rec board member Gary Borcherding said he wanted to address some rumors.

“We do our business in the board room, and if we take a vote here, that vote stands,” he said. “I just wanted to clear that up now. I’ve been hearing rumors about different things that supposedly changed after the last meeting and stuff and that did not happen. If we vote on it at a board meeting, it stands.”

Borcherding said he met with SICOG and was told the Girl Scout cabin does not qualify for any historical grants. To be eligible, the cabin must be on the historical registry or be eligible to be on the historical registry. The process to become part of the registry can take up to two years.

Just because the cabin isn’t on the historical registry, it doesn’t mean grants aren’t available.

“What has to be done to write grants ... an architect, an engineer, someone who can testify to the quality of the logs, the order of things that have to be done,” he said. “The architect, the engineer, needs to be someone that can bring the entire estimate together of the complete project, and bring the contract together in the proper order of what they’re going to do, whether that be a plumber, electrician, carpenter, what have you.”

Supporters in attendance at Tuesday’s park and rec meeting were told an initial estimate has to reflect the entirety of the project as if material and labor are purchased at full price.

“From that, then you start subtracting donated materials, donated labor, funds that have been raised,” said Borcherding. “That gets you back to a dollar amount where you can start looking for an answer.”

Any work done on the Girl Scout cabin, which is a city-owned amenity, has to go for bids like any other city project.

“Those are not our rules, those are city rules,” Borcherding said.

Borcherding said, so far, bids for projects like Lexie’s Puppy Patch are coming in at almost 100% over estimate. Board members pointed out the cabin will need footings with the concrete work, new electrical, chimney and an old lead pipe that’s part of its water line needs to be replaced. Until the electrical is brought up to code, the cabin remains unable to be used.

Borcherding recommended the scouts meet with an engineer from Garden and Associates.

The cabin will be added to the board’s February agenda.

In other Creston Parks and Recreation board news:

• Creston Parks and Rec annual Comedy Night is 5 to 11 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Eagles Club. A social hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by a prime rib dinner at 6:30 p.m. This year’s featured comedian is Jeremy Danley. Tickets are $30 each. Sponsored tables of 8 are $340. Pick up tickets at the Creston News Advertiser, Eagles Club and Willets, Baird & Co, PLC, or any parks board member.

• Party in the Park will be held July 2 in McKinley Park. Details to be determined.