The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Natural Resource Commission will discuss and possibly act on three building projects and two management agreements for southwest Iowa parks. During their meeting Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 16th) in Des Moines, the Commission will act on approving land management agreements with the Cass County Conservation Board (CCCB), for Cold Springs State Park, and Frank Chapman Pellett Memorial Woods. The DNR is requesting the Commission approve renewal of the agreements, which would authorize the CCCB to manage both sites through 2037. The CCCB has managed both the 104 acre Cold Springs State Park, and the nearly 20-acre Pellett Memorial Woods, since 1987.

The Commission will also act on a request from the IDNR to award a bid for the demolition of a shower building at Springbrook State Park in Guthrie County, to Caliber Concrete, LLC, of Adair.  The structure, which has been in-place since 1968, would be replaced with a precast, concrete shower building, necessary sewer, water and electrical utilities, two parking stalls, and other site specific work. Caliber Concrete had the low bid for the project of slightly more than $270, 087. The bid was right on the mark for the engineer’s cost estimate, and $23,000 less than the next competitive bid.

The Commission will also act on awarding bids for two construction projects at the Lake of Three Fires, in Taylor County. That includes a bid for: Construction of the Park Office and Shop from Hymbaugh Construction in Creston, for $480,589, which was $30,000 over the engineer’s cost estimate; and, a shower building replacement project, which the DNR recommends be awarded to TEK Builders, Inc., of Mt. Ayr.

Their bid of $271,800 came in less than the engineer’s projected cost of $277,566. The project involves the replacement of a 1968 shower building with a new, precast concrete  structure, pad and parking spaces.

The Natural Resources Commission’s meeting begins at 1-p.m. Wednesday, at the Wallace State Office Building in Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.