Kenosha---With little discussion, the City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a settlement with the company that installed the faulty surface at the Dream Playground.
The vote--coupled with an earlier decision to hire a different contractor to rip up and replace the spongy floor--puts to rest most of the controversy surrounding the problem that forced city officials to close the playground last spring, setting off a huge outcry. Most of the money for the playground had been raised from private sources, and volunteers performed much of the construction in barn-raising style.
Although crews are well on their way toward replacing the surface, a reopening date for the playground has not yet been set.
The settlement calls for the city to net $230,000 from the original contractor. The cost of the surface was $163,000. The cost of ripping up the spongy material and replacing it with a stronger and more durable product is $588,000.The city will eat the difference.
The original surface failed to pass safety tests last spring. Officials also noticed premature wearing in spots.
The actual cause of the problem was never revealed, although city officials believe it centered on the installation process.
Monday night's vote won't end the City Council's involvement with the process. Aldermen will eventually be asked to sign off on the work that's currently being performed. And Ald. Dave Bogdala--chair of the Public Works Committee--wants to review city bidding procedures.
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