Damaged PA civic center and library still awaiting repairs
Published 5:46 pm Thursday, January 18, 2018
- Adam Saunders, director of the Bob Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, looks at damages shortly after Tropical Storm Harvey flooded the facility. The city is looking at an April completion date to repair the building, but there’s no guarantees.
Port Arthur resident Andy Nguyen wanted to get married at the Bob Bowers Civic Center in December. Then Harvey happened.
“I had to reschedule my wedding date to April,” he said. “It may not happen. My reservation was pushed back. I scheduled it in December two years in advance.”
Though it’s hard to tell from the building’s exterior, Tropical Storm Harvey did a number on the civic center when it flooded. It still has not reopened.
Mayor Derrick Freeman said remodeling can possibly get done by April, but there’s no guarantees and it’s in the contractor’s hands.
Harvey Robinson, interim city manager, said there is no timeline for any particular phase for the project and he will speak with the contractor.
Risa Carpenter, public information officer with the city, said a contractor has not been found yet, but the city is looking.
To help rebuild, the city will enter into a contract with the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Turnkey Recover program.
The Bob Bowers Civic Center will be covered by TMLIRP. Damages to the civic center were $2,433,446 including contents. TML offered to settle the claim for $2,433,446 less the physical damage deductible amount of $53,644, making the final settlement offer $2,379,801.
TMLIRP has guaranteed the physical damage deductible will be covered in the construction contact. The city will incur no deductible charge through this recovery process.
Likewise, Jose Martinez, library director, said they are “very preliminary” in the rebuilding process and a contractor hasn’t been hired yet. As a result, there is no completion date for the flood-damaged Port Arthur Public Library.
Likewise, as a result of the damages to the library, a claim was filed with TMLIRP with damages totaling $1,950,679 excluding contents. TMLIRP has offered to settle the claim for $1,950,679 less the physical damage deductible amount of $55,497, making the final settlement offer $1,895,182.
TMLIRP guaranteed the physical damage deductible in the amount of $55,497 will be covered by TMLIRP, so the city will incur no deductible charge through this recovery process.
