Glen Ellyn officials can't pin down final tally for fitness center

Glen Ellyn Park District officials said Tuesday the final construction cost of Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center will not be known for two to three months because some vouchers have not been processed nor paid.

However, commissioners at the board workshop agreed they ultimately want a concrete number to stand behind even if it is still unclear how they will reach it.

Board President Ed Hess said he expects numbers to fluctuate until all payments are received and credits are applied.

"You can't get a final number that's accurate until the project is done," he said. "It's still ongoing and that's why that number tends to float."

But Hess did say that he is confident in the estimates, which are at about $11.47 million when not including possible future credits and revenue received from Western DuPage Special Recreation Association.

Superintendent of Finance and Personnel Laurie Woods submitted a report that listed updated expenses on the project.

One point of confusion in the report was the inclusion of a $124,415.39 payment to Professional Building Services dated Feb. 19, 2009. That expense had been overlooked in a previous summary report the board had received in November.

Woods told Hess it was a data entry error and she did not know how it was overlooked. Hess said he was concerned about the oversight but understood the pressure the staff has faced on the Ackerman project.

"Staff has been asked for so many reports in so many different ways that it's kind of hard to keep it all straight," Hess said.

The complex had its grand opening in January amidst concerns from some commissioners about its cost. Taxpayers had approved the recreation center in a November 2006 referendum as a $7.4 million facility. By the time of its grand opening, however, the total cost had risen to $11.2 million.

Commissioner Jay Kinzler said it is imperative the board get the total cost as soon as possible and that oversights in reporting do not serve them well.

"I think it's important for going forward as far as getting involved in another project," he said. "When we go to the public and say we missed a few numbers, that does not show us in as good a light as we should be shown."

Commissioner Melissa Creech, whose call for a forensic audit in December was rejected, re-opened the issue, saying it was on the shoulders of Hess and other commisioners to reconsider. Because the Ackerman project has spanned several years, an annual audit being performed will not give the board the cost.

Creech said her concern all along has been that the numbers have not been accurately reported to the board. The payment to Professional Building Services raises their total on the project to more than $900,000, which includes $167,000 in reimbursable expenses and a $209,000 increase that kicked in when the scope of the 88,000-square-foot facility increased.

Hess did not rule out a forensic audit but said the cost-benefit would have to be weighed.

"It'd be nice to have a complete number we can stand by," he said. "But I don't know how we get to that number."