By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Thanks to savings from low bids on two other projects financed with the city's share of the Ellis County sales tax, a fifth alternate has been added to the installation of artificial turf in the infields at Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.
Jeff Boyle, Hays parks director, presented the project proposal and recommended low bid to city commissioners Thursday night.
Mid-America Sports Construction, Lee's Summit, Missouri, had the low bid of $1.5 million for turfing all eight infields, plus four alternates.
"Good company," said Boyle. "They're the ones that did the Hays Larks field and also the Hays High School baseball field."
The Hays Recreation Commission will put $700,000 toward the project and city commission capital reserves will kick in another $927,000.
The Bickle-Schmidt alternates are expanded repairs to the transition zones, expansion of the infields on fields 5, 6, and 8 to allow more tournament play, additional rubber infield supplies, and the removal of the existing red infield dirt.
The infield dirt will be stockpiled for Glassman Park and Aubel-Bickle Park "where we need it very badly," Boyle said. "We think it's a no-brainer to spend $13,000 to have it removed and used to bring those two infields to the correct level. The estimated material cost is $45,000-$50,000."
Commissioner Shaun Musil proposed that alternate #5 - turfing of the 16 bullpens - also be added to the project at a cost of $264,000.
"I know it's a lot of money," Musil said. "I know we've done three or four projects where we've had quite a bit of savings. To me, you spend over a million and a half, and to skimp on the bullpens, I think it's a mistake."
Musil also asked the recreation commission if they would be able to "help a little bit more."
Superintendent Roger Bixenman, who was in the audience, said he had already talked to his board members and they were supportive.
Although considered important, the bullpens were not included in the recommendation because of budget constraints, according to Toby Dougherty, city manager. After reviewing the savings on two other recent projects, commissioners agreed it should be included.
The difference is about $43,000 more than initially projected.
"We made a commitment to do something that was going to economically impact our community" said Mayor Sandy Jacobs. "Being able to bring more tournaments in, I certainly think it's important we consider this."
Boyle said he had talked with the company about using a different turf type with less thatch for the bullpens.
"They said they do it all the time. ... I got an email back that it would cost about $200,000. So I think we can work through this with them and even get that price down farther. ... I think there's other savings in the base bid.
"I do think this is doing it the right way. Dodge City has some horror stories that they relayed to us. Great Bend said there was no way they were not turfing their bullpens because of the problem with mud getting onto their turf."
"I think if we're going to do this, we should do it right the first time," said Mason Ruder, vice-mayor. "We don't want to have to keep going back and piecing it together for the next 20 years."
"Everything that we're doing out there, we're going to have one of the best things in all of Kansas," Musil said.
The sports complex will soon also have new scoreboards and shade shelters.
Commissioners will vote on the bid next week.