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Youngstown Hires Consultant to Oversee Convocation Center Project
By George NelsonYOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The city's Board of Control yesterday hired Entertainment and Sports Consulting LLC to serve as its project representative for the Youngstown Convocation Center.The Rhode Island-based firm is headed by Lee A. Esckilsen, who was formerly affiliated with Compass Facilities Management, which worked with the city on the convocation center project, leading it through the proposal process, said Law Director John A. McNally IV. He said the firm will act as the board of control's liaison with the project manager for the convention center. Under the terms of the professional services agreement -- which runs from June 1 of this year through Nov. 30, 2005, or until completion and opening of the convention center -- Entertainment and Sports Consulting will:Participate in the continuation of the design phase of the project, to verify that the facility will meet the city's program and design criteriaReview fixtures, furniture and equipment to assure they meet the city's standards and expectationsMonitor construction of the facility and immediately report when/if the project goes off schedule or over budget for any reason Supervise the construction of the facility to confirm that the project developer, Global Entertainment/International Coliseums Corporation and its subcontractors meet the material and methods expectations of the project Assist the city in negotiation and implementation of the GE/ICC GEMS agreement Assist the city in the review and approval of the convocation center tenant agreements, which include professional ice hockey and arena footballCollaborate with the city and Global to create a grand opening schedule of events that meets the city's expectationsMonitor the construction schedule "punch list" to ensure that the construction and finishes are completed to the city's expectations and satisfactionThe contract calls for Entertainment and Sports Consulting to be paid $150 per hour, and permits maximum allowable travel expenses of $800 per trip for airline tickets, $65 per day for car rental, $120 per night for hotel and $55 per day for meals. The city will also reimburse the firm for other miscellaneous travel expenses including but not limited to tolls, parking fees and gas.The agreement must be approved by City Council, and McNally said a resolution -- which will include a proposed ceiling for the contract -- will be put before council next week. On Sept. 8,bids will be opened for the structural steel and pre cast concrete packages for the $41 million project. Originally scheduled to be opened Aug. 31, the city extended the bid deadline."There were some technical questions that came up during the bidding process raised by the prospective bidders that required clarification of the drawings and the written specifications," said Carmen Conglose, Youngstown's deputy director of public works.Conglose said the city is again seeking bids on the plumbing package of the convocation center project, with that segment being included in the scope of work in the bid package which will be opened Sept. 13. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Friday morning. The plumbing work is being bid for a third time after the most recent set of proposals came in higher than expected. The city also is evaluating options for the elevators at the convention center, which have received no bidders in two rounds. Conglose said the city might again solicit for proposals or include the elevator work in one of the other general trade contracts.So far, city officials have awarded contracts totaling more than $3 million for the $41 million convocation center. The project is being funded in part with a $26.8 million federal grant for the project through the efforts of former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland.At yesterday's meeting, the Board of Control also approved a 10 year, 75% tax abatement for Genmak Steel LLC, which is building a 74,000-square-foot facility in the city's Ohio Works Industrial Park. The western Pennsylvania company, which received a $1 million state loan, will bring 70 jobs to the city, according to Finance Director David Bozanich, who noted the city only has 30 acres left for development at the Ohio Works site. Visit the Youngstown Convocation Center at www.youngstownconvocationcenter.comContact George Nelson at [email protected]"