Geneva parking deck on track for Feb. 1 opening

Geneva's parking deck will open Feb. 1, city administrators told the city council Monday.

But workers are going to have to hustle to make up for time lost last week, as they add a third tier to the deck at South and Third streets.

"They lost all last week due to the extreme weather conditions," public works director Rich Babica said, adding that it was too cold for iron work to be done.

The city council had agreed to let Walsh Construction work on three Sundays in January, if needed, to meet the Feb. 1 deadline called for in the contract.

"I received an email this morning from Matt Walsh, president of the construction company, reassuring me that we would be parking cars Feb. 1," city administrator Mary McKittrick said.

The deck has been closed since August. Those who had permits to park in it have been parking for free at First Baptist Church's east campus at 2300 South St., and taken by shuttle bus to the station. The city leased the lot from the church.

The city signed a $4.48 million contract with Walsh last July to add 180 spaces to the deck. It is a lump-sum contract, so weekend work is not costing the city extra.

The discussion came as the council approved a change order of $5,197, to install two more closed-circuit television cameras in the deck.