Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Dripping Springs Ranch Park (DSRP) will be getting a new roof, following the award of the bid contract by Dripping Springs City Council during its Jan. 6 meeting.
Council unanimously approved awarding the $456,593.40 contract to Elite Contracting Group, which was the lowest bidder out of 13 that submitted proposals, with a 10-year warranty. This comes after the need for a new roof was discovered as the current one — which has missing or loose screws, as well as holes — has leaked into the DSRP facility.
There was an original budget line item for fiscal year 2026 that was for $600,000 for the project, which included a $100,000 grant that the city was seeking to help with the cost, according to deputy city administrator Shawn Cox. However, since the city did not receive the grant, the actual budgeted amount for the roof is $500,000 and the bid came in below that.
“We did choose the base bid at the 10-year warranty because it keeps it under that $500,000 and gives some additional funding to work with in case change orders do arise,” said DSRP Manager Lily Sellers.
The roof rehabilitation project includes the following:
Remove 160 fiberglass skylights and replace with metal sheeting
Replace all missing or loose screws and fasteners
Repair all holes and other damage
Power wash entire roof
Reinforce and flash in all horizontal seams, vertical laps and roof penetrations, such as curbs, pipes, cables, vents, etc.
Seal roof with an elastomeric white coating
Moving into discussion across the dais, Mayor Bill Foulds asked at what degree would change orders need to be brought before council for a vote, as the agenda item called for approving a specific dollar amount.
“Any change orders up to $50[,000] can be done administratively. However, if for any reason the change orders make it go over the $500,000, it would go back to council to approve a budget amendment,” Cox told the News-Dispatch.
The contract timeline is for 30 days and the contractor is allowed 60 days for work to begin after notice of the awarded bid is sent. Sellers said that she is hoping that construction will begin within the next couple of months and knowing that the product must be applied in correct temperatures, weather make-up days will be allowed if needed.
She added that city staff do not anticipate that the project will impact the public’s access to DSRP.
“We do not anticipate this closing the facility or impacting it. There will be some notices Monday [through] Friday of noise exposure for our park patrons and maybe some minor closures during the primary skylight removal, however, the project should not affect community access or events in the park,” Sellers stated.
Dripping Springs City Council meets next at 6 p.m. Jan. 20.
