By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A $281,890 project is moving forward to help save a well-used Yukon recreation facility.
The City of Yukon’s engineering firm, TEIM Design, will be paid $31,890 to provide a scope of work, bidding and inspection services to repair and seal the outside walls of the Jackie Cooper Gym.
The gym, 1024 E Main, has been plagued by leaks that is causing some major problems.
Water has seeped into the building’s walls during heavy rains because those walls were never adequately sealed.
Assistant City Manager Mitchell Hort recommended the Jackie Cooper Gym repair project, and the city council approved paying the engineer at its April 19th meeting.
In December 2021, the council was told it would cost about $181,000 to repair and seal the outside walls.
But the estimated construction price tag is now $250,000 due to a rise in material and labor costs.
“It is badly in need of repair,” Yukon City Manager Tammy Kretchmar said.
Repairs to the building’s concrete block walls have been proposed as the first step to save the facility from further damage.
Installation of a new roof also is possible at the Jackie Cooper Gym, which was built in 1999 on Yukon’s east side.
City council members learned the severity of damages inside and outside the structure during a presentation at their Dec. 7, 2021, work session.
Salt in the existing concrete block walls is “leeching out” because the block is not water repellent, Hort explained.
“When this (gym) was constructed, the block didn’t have a sealant in it to prevent that water migration,” he told council members.
The proposed project “would fix those problems that we have and seal those walls where we don’t have that moisture migrating in. Once that’s stopped, then we can do other repairs as we go forward.”
A major upgrade to the Jackie Cooper Gym’s roof may be required to stop moisture damage from occurring in the building.
One proposal calls for the roof to be removed and replaced with a new one that includes a gutter system designed so water drains properly instead of collecting on top. Estimated cost is $585,000.
THIS AND THAT …
In other business at it April 19th meeting, the Yukon City Council approved:
- Paying $14,500 to Planning Design Group for landscape architectural service for the former lumberyard property at 24 S 4th. The council recently approved hired a contractor to demolish the structures.
- A Cox commercial services agreement to re-establish phone service at Kimbell Bay swimming pool. Installation fee is $25 and estimated monthly cost is $30.
A proposed action item to request de-annexation of W Wilshire Boulevard to the City of Oklahoma City was pulled from the agenda without discussion.
