HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As expected, the Hutchinson City Council rejected bids for the pavilion center for Rivers Banks Orchard Park north of town.

The city was to take action on bids for the building during Tuesday’s agenda session, but bids came in nearly twice the projected cost, which was approximately $850,000.

The action by the council also comes as questions were raised by several council members over whether the public building would cause too much competition with other such facilities that are both privately and company owned.

One city council member who is employed by such a company expressed concern during a recent meeting. During Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman John Daveline stressed the need to study the competition issue further:

 

Parks Director Justin Combs says, while there could be some competition, the buildings at the parks are often used by groups for events that are very different from the other event centers:

 

City Manager John Deardoff says things are further complicated by the fact the council has already approved bonds for the project, along with engineering and design costs. The council wants the study conducted on the event numbers in the next 30 to 60 days before making a decision as to where to go with the project.

The engineer for the project also told the council that he would go back and redraw plans for the project at no cost.

The city has until the first of the year to get the project rolling or the city will have to make some decisions on what to do with the bonded funds.