County rejects proposal to buy cabanas for aquatic center

The Shawnee County Commission rejected a proposal Thursday to spend nearly $59,000 to acquire and install 11 pool cabanas at the county’s Midwest Health Aquatic Center, 2201 S.W. Urish Road.

Commissioners Bob Archer, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook voted 3-0 to disapprove the measure after Tim Laurent, deputy director of the county’s parks and recreation department, said that department was re-evaluating the proposed move and looking at alternatives.

Commissioners deferred action April 18 on that department’s request that they award a bid to Playscape Recreation LLC to provide and install the 11 pool cabanas at the aquatic center at a cost of $58,971.

Archer suggested April 18 that the facility lacks the room for that many cabanas, adding that the county could find better ways to spend that much money on parks and recreation.

“I don’t think this is Miami Beach,” he said.