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Saturday, May 18, 2013
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
Workers from 2G Construction remove the old fountain from Main Street Park on March 11. The concrete structure will be saved until a new home can be identified.
March 19, 2013
MONMOUTH -- Monmouth residents could be cooling off in a new water feature in Main Street Park before the official start of summer.
Contractors last week salvaged and removed most of the old fountain that adorned the center of the park to make room for a new one and a splash pad.
The structures should be finished by June 1.
"Right now, contractors have just been cleaning the site and preparing it," City Manager Scott McClure said.
City Council settled on a fountain design in 2012 and had an original goal to have it up and running last fall.
A desire to incorporate lighting and art into its appearance to make it a centerpiece for the park when the water wasn't flowing, however, pushed the schedule back.
The addition of a stainless-steel sculpture with lighting accents increased the estimated cost of the project to $184,000; actual bids came in at $160,000, Public Works Director Russ Cooper said.
Contractor and fountain builder, 2G Construction of Eugene, will install electrical work and fresh- and wastewater supply lines that will feed to and from the fountain.
Once the footing is in place, crews will plumb the new fountain for the water jets. Flat concrete work will follow.
The splash pad, which will shoot water up from the ground, will be about 24 feet in diameter.
The removal of the old fountain, meanwhile, went without a hitch, Cooper said.
2G used straps and the boom arm of an excavator March 11 to lift and move the estimated 10,000-pound fountain from its footing and load it onto the back of a truck.
"The excavator was `groaning' under the weight," Cooper said.
Officials were hoping to rescue the bowl and the pedestal; they not only saved those, but the first two fountain steps, as well, McClure said.
The old structure was built in 1940 and rededicated to the city by the Monmouth-Independence Community Arts Association 30 years ago.
The fountain has been moved to the city shops and will remain there until a new home is identified. Somewhere near the forthcoming amphitheater is a possibility, McClure said.
"The intent is to bring it back to Main Street Park, we just have to identify the best spot for it," he said.
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