Lisbon discussed the second phase of the Lisbon Sports Complex, with bids slated to go out in January for the complex.
Phase two of the sports complex will add two full size baseball diamonds to the complex.
According to Lisa Burch of YTT, the cost opinion for the second phase of the project is roughly $1.29 million.
City administrator Brandon Siggins said that the plan is to take a bid out for base bids on grading of the fields, irrigation, backstops and fencing around the fields for roughly $726,000. Alternates for the plan would look at installing pavement around the ball parks, lighting for the diamonds, as well as bleachers. As well, work could begin on grading for fields included in phase three of the project. Irrigation will not be installed on phase three fields.
“If we encounter things like lights being higher than estimates, we could phase those in over multiple years,” Siggins said.
While work may begin on the fields this year, this is a planned two to three year project until the diamonds could be fully usable.
“It’s going to take at least one growing season for the grass seeding to take off properly in the ball fields,” Siggins said.
The city has roughly $1.1 million to spend on the phase of the project this year, which is also why the city is looking at alternates and bidding in multiple seasons to complete.
Discussion by council was on why the city was not considering adding turf field instead of grass field.
Parks and recreation director Drayton Kamberling said they were looking at grass fields to maintain versatility for different users.
“Without having solidly lined fields, we can easily adapt to whomever is using the field, from little league to recreational leagues and high school play,” Kamberling said. “Another issue we have found is that turf gets super hot in the summer, as the sun reflects off the turf. It gets to be miserable for players in the infield playing on it.”
As well, life span of turf is roughly every 10 years it has to be replaced.
Mayor Doug O’Connor said if the bids for grading came in favorable, he would like to see grading for phase two and phase three completed at the same time to prepare the remaining portions of the sports complex be ready when the city comes to them.
Burch said the project will be sent out for bids in January, with the project to be awarded in February.