Parks Director Justin Huss told city council on Monday that when he started his job in the spring, he inherited a project for construction of a pavilion and playground at Lake Leatherwood City Park that would be funded by a 50-50 grant from the Department of Parks and Tourism. Parks dropped the pavilion from the project because bids came in over budget. Huss said the State buys equipment through “cooperative contracts” which allows for the purchase of playground equipment, for example, for more than one location in the state by negotiating with vendors for favorable prices.
Therefore, Huss requested waiving the bidding process because of the cost savings and because the project completion date stipulated in the grant is at the very latest Dec. 31, 2016, with a preferred completion date of Nov. 1, to guarantee funding.
The project cost is estimated at $155,000, and Huss said the Parks Commission set aside the matching funds in this year’s budget.
Council approved all three readings and the emergency clause of Ordinance 2247 which waived competitive bidding.