Carson City’s MAC on track

Construction of Carson City’s multi-purpose athletic center remains on track with a mid-December completion possible despite a tight sub-contracting construction labor market.

Bill Miles of Miles Construction Co., the general contractor, and Roger Moellendorf, city government’s Parks and Recreation Department director, made that assessment Tuesday even as Moellendorf said if a minor delay intervenes it isn’t a big deal. Moellendorf said the community has awaited the center, also known as the MAC, for years and a short delay is of little consequence if that occurs.

Miles, fresh from a meeting on the sub-contracting worker shortage issue Tuesday afternoon, emerged with his optimism intact.

“We are tracking to have the MAC done and open by Dec. 16,” he said. He said he was less concerned weather could cause a delay than he was about the tight labor market. He said Northern Nevada is working with some success on recruiting the work force needed as construction picks up, but acknowledged the recession has had an impact on the number of skilled workers available.

Yet his own view was coupled with Moellendorf’s regarding timing.

“On any project there’s always some little things going on,” said Moellendorf, adding the tentative date for completion isn’t etched in stone. He said if the target isn’t met, the wooden court floor needs additional time before use anyway at the large facility on Russell Way.

“We’re not going to really open it up for business until January,” he said. “We’ve got to let the wood floor get acclimated.”

Moellendorf said landscaping is going in, the floor is being laid, sports equipment has arrived and the overhead track is in place, though he’s unsure if the surface for that walking/jogging track has yet been applied.

“As of last week,” he said, “it wasn’t installed yet.” He said of that surfacing and other details, he would know more on progress after a weekly update meeting Thursday.

City Manager Nick Marano said the mid-December completion date was still on track and a ribbon-cutting is tentatively scheduled Dec. 16. “We look forward to having a great facility on line for all indoor court sports,” he said.

The $8.5 million MAC is being completed just south of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, which is at 1870 Russell Way, just west of the I-580 freeway in Carson City. The center will feature four high school basketball courts overlaying two collegiate sized courts, which also allows for other net sports or related physical activities, as well as the overhanging, second-level track.