More than a year after the City of Hattiesburg’s request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fully replace the tornado-damaged Timberton Softball Complex was denied, Hattiesburg City Council members have approved an amended agreement with Hattiesburg engineering firm Neel Schaffer for restoration of the facility.
That decision, which was made at the February 7 council meeting, continues an already existing contract with the firm, which allows it to proceed with construction documents and the beginning phase of the restoration project. After design plans are finalized, council members will assess that cost and cover the remaining funds that will not be handled by FEMA.
“I think it’s extremely important that we get the Timberton complex back up and available to the residents in that area, and all those within our city that want to utilize it,” council president Jeffrey George said. “Parks are extremely important to quality of life, and we want to make sure that everybody has a great quality of life and the opportunity to use this facility.
“So I’m excited to see it moving forward.”
According to documents provided by Neel Schaffer, preliminary design on the facility is currently underway and will last until the end of March. Final design is expected to finish in late May, with final revisions to take place in early June.
Bids for the project will open in late July, and the contract will be awarded before the end of September. The construction phase will begin in early October, with project closeout expected for March or April of next year.
In October 2021, Hattiesburg officials filed a request for arbitration for full replacement of the complex, which was heavily damaged in the January 2017 tornado that tore through the eastern and southern parts of the city. On January 20, 2022, hat replacement request was denied by the United States Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, although that three-judge panel did grand additional funds to aid in repair.
The request for arbitration was made after city officials received notice in August 2021 that an appeal sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency over insufficient funding obligations for Timberton – which has sat in the same state for six years since being dismantled by the tornado – was denied.
“I’m obviously disappointed that the full replacement cost wasn’t granted to the city,” Mayor Toby Barker said after the denial. “While we are pleased that there are some additional repair dollars allocated, it’s going to be a challenge put Timberton Park in the condition we believe it needs to be.
“However, we’re still committed to that, and we look forward to getting another project worksheet from FEMA and hopefully pushing some sort of repair scope to the finish line.”
About three months after the softball complex was destroyed by the tornado, the FEMA Cost Estimation Format calculated damages totaling $565,572 to the park, based on a site visit by city and FEMA staff. That calculation was not based on an engineer’s report, as required by FEMA for large-category projects.
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In June 2020, city officials appealed that original damage estimate to FEMA, presenting an engineer estimate of approximately $2.455 million. Four months later, the large press box at Timberton, which sustained minor damage during the tornado, was destroyed by fire, for which the City of Hattiesburg was paid $147,287.
In early April 2019, FEMA issued a revised Cost Estimating Format of an additional $1.888 million, for a total of $2.456 million obligated for repairs at the complex. In August 2020, Congressman Steven Palazzo announced the obligation of $14 million for Timberton.
In September 2019, city officials received an obligation letter of $2.456 million for the complex. However, it was determined that approximately $957,683.00 was omitted from cost revisions related to project management and construction trade requirements such as permits, safety & security, bonds, insurance and architect/engineering costs.
The omissions related to the most recent obligation were submitted to FEMA for correction that same month.
In February 2020, city officials received a letter from FEMA stating that $1.717 million of the $2.456 that was obligated for repair of the part was de-obligated after FEMA reinspection. Two months later, the city filed an appeal to that obligation letter.
In December 2020 and January 2021, the city received word that the appeal process was still under review; the city was informed in August 2021 that FEMA had denied the city’s appeal.
Year over year, city officials have incrementally added more to its policy funding. As of Fiscal Year 2022, the policy coverage is at $2 million.
This arbitration decision is the final step in FEMA’s appeal process, which is pursuant to the provisions of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act Section 1219.
