City will spend $55,910 for a structural analysis of the May's Island underground parkade

The City Council will spend $55,910 to hire an engineering firm to reinspect the May's Island underground parkade.

The parkade took on flood water in the June 2008 flood, and it has not been used since.

According to city staff members, a local engineering firm provided an initial structural “opinion” on the parkade's status in May 2009, saying large crowds shouldn't stand on the lawn above the garage until a further assessment and repairs are made.

Now, out-of-town firm Camp Dresser McKee Inc., which has been involved in the city's damage assessment process, will conduct the more detailed analysis of the parkade's status.

Council member Don Karr and Mayor Ron Corbett have noted that Third Avenue bridge is atop the parkade, and no one has suggested that the bridge be closed.

The City Council this month decided to return city government to the Veterans Memorial Building on May's Island, which is served by the island's underground parkade.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay for the new study if the study determines that the parkade sustained flood-related structural damage. FEMA also will pay to repair such damage.