SEBASTIAN — The hundreds of ballplayers who descend on the Barber Street Sports Complex for baseball and softball games will have four newly re-turfed fields to take to this fall after the Sebastian City Council approved a $39,800 contract with a Boynton Beach company to perform the work.
The out-of-area firm beat out two Vero Beach companies for the project, having come in $7,600 less than the second lowest bidder, Timothy Rose Contracting. The highest bidder, Bill Bryant & Associates, estimated the work to be closer to $122,600.
Councilman Bob McPartlan asked City Manager Al Minner about the timing of the work and sought reassurance the construction would be wrapped before fall sports commenced.
Minner told McPartlan that Sports Turf One has a 60-day agreement to get the work done and that it should be complete by Sept. 1.
Vice Mayor Don Wright marveled at the price disparity amongst the three firms during the council meeting’s discussion on the project.
“I was amazed,” he said of the differences in price, adding that it appeared Sports Turf One meets all the city’s requirements.
Mayor Jim Hill agreed, noting that he was originally uncomfortable with Minner’s recommendation to go with Sports Turf One because the company’s bid was so much lower than the other firms.
Hill said that after he had spoken with Minner about his concerns, he could stand behind the recommendation.
The work includes improving drainage and the turf in the infields of the four ball fields, for which the city had budgeted $50,000 in recreational impact fees.
“This one is pretty much a no-brainer,” Wright said of approving the construction contract for the project.
He added that the city has worked with Sports Turf One in the past and has had a good relationship with the company.
