Track resurfacing to be delayed

Resurfacing of the decades-old Oleai track facility is expected to be further delayed as the Northern Marianas Sports Association has yet to finalize its assessment report on the damage sustained by the CNMI’s lone sports complex from Typhoon Soudelor.

NMSA would submit the report to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will give federal funds for the repairs to be done inside the complex.

The track and field inside the sports complex, though, suffered minimal damage with the track resurfacing the only major thing that needs to be done.

NMSA vice president Kurt Barnes said they are still waiting for the architectural and engineering design. “The A&E still is not finished. When it is there will be a 30 day announcement to find a contractor.”

Northern Marianas Housing Corp. deputy corporate director Zenie P. Mafnas, in an earlier interview, said they are expecting the A&E design to be completed next month.

The notice to proceed for the A&E design has already been issued last July 29 and the sub-recipient agreement has also been signed.
“The contract completion time will be 90 days thereafter. Construction should happen thereafter. Therefore, given the bidding process and construction, the estimated time for the actual construction to be completed is either in March or April 2016,” said Mafnas.

“[That is] if the 120-day project period still stands, granted there are no unexpected circumstances which would require a change order,” Mafnas added.

The NMHC is only the funding agency for the Oleai track facility’s resurfacing project after NMSA applied for a Community Development Block Grant.

NMSA has the sole responsibility of taking care of the entire land inside the Oleai Sports Complex.

NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi said that they reached an agreement with the Department of Public Lands and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs designating the whole land of the Oleai Sports Complex to the Commonwealth’s sports governing body.

The land is currently designated to DDCA, however, it is stipulated in the Agreement for Designation of Use of Public Domain Lands: that, DCCA (Grantee of the land), will assume the overall responsibility for the public land parcel on which NMSA will renovate, develop, and manage a Sports Complex and other structures incidental to the operation of the sports facility.”

NMHC said that NMSA is the sub-recipient of $965,000 where 80 percent of the amount will be allocated for the resurfacing while the 20 percent or $193,000 will be allotted for administrative work.

Resurfacing is needed on the track after bubbles and black patches formed around the facility. NMSA is also preparing the facility in time for hosting bid by the Northern Marianas Athletics on the regional athletics championship and the staging of the 2021 Pacific Mini Games.