DOVER –– According to the most recent monthly project status report given to Levy Court Tuesday night, construction of the Kent County Recreation Center is on schedule and on budget.

Kent County Levy Court President Brooks Banta was among the speakers at the October groundbreaking ceremony. (Delaware State News file/Dave Chambers)

So far, the building footers and piers are completed and slabs will be poured by the end of the month, before a lull in progress on the building.

Due to a hold up with structural steel delivery, currently an industry-wide issue, the focus of construction will be diverted to the turf fields, concession stand and maintenance facility.

The construction of the outdoor artificial turf fields is expected to take about two months.

Once the structural steel comes in and construction resumes on the main building, EDiS and Becker Morgan plan to wrap up all major construction this fall and to complete final site work by the end of the year.

When construction began, no unexpected circumstances with the land were found, leaving the 10 percent contingency fund totally intact.

The Recreation Center, located on New Burton Road in Dover is set to open to the public before the end of February 2016.

Also discussed at Tuesday’s meeting was an amendment to the ground lease between Kent County and the Kent County Regional Sports Complex Corp..

The lease, signed in March 2013 agreed to a $1 per year for 60 years lease for 83.986 acres and the amendment proposed that the land leased be increased to 91.84 acres.

The reason for the change is twofold; the temporary entrance required by DelDOT demanded more space as did DNREC’s stormwater maintenance on the property.

The commissioners all easily agreed to the amendment and it will be signed at next week’s business meeting.

The Sports Complex, planned for Frederica, will have 13 multi-purpose outdoor fields, lighting, concession stands, restrooms and paved parking lots.

The Complex is planned to open on Columbus Day (Oct. 10), 2016. A search for an executive director has begun, although a date of hiring hasn’t yet been revealed.

Levy Court meets next on May 26 at 7 p.m. at 555 Bay Road in Dover. An agenda will be available online at co.kent.de.us.