By ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network
The Hays USD 489 Board of Education reviewed a bid for design and bid services from Mammoth Construction for the Hays High tennis courts.
Currently, the Hays High tennis teams practice at Fort Hays State University’s courts since the existing courts are in a construction zone from the bond construction.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said the plan is to resurface the four existing tennis courts as well as add four new courts. There will also be a shade structure and seating for tennis spectators.
“We do have a lot of kids that participate in tennis,” Wilson said. “Having eight tennis courts for our teams would be great.”
Wilson said Mammoth would create the bid specs, but the bid for construction would be sent to all contractors.
Board member Allen Park asked why this bid was not open to other designers who might be interested. Wilson said the district has worked with Mammoth in the past for design work and felt confident they could put together a good design.
Board member Derek Yarmer said he did not see the harm in getting more than one bid on the design portion.
“I’m sure they do fine, just maybe there’s somebody else that has different ideas,” Yarmer said.
Wilson said one of the pulls toward Mammoth is they are specifically in sports construction.
Park agreed with Yarmer.
“I think it would be advantageous for us to maybe get more people involved instead of always going with the same people,” Park said.
Wilson also clarified that Mammoth is only doing the bidding specs and design. Construction bids will still be presented to the board as usual.
Yarmer motioned to table the discussion until more information was presented and Park seconded it. Wilson said that even if other bids were sought out, the price point would be relatively the same.
Board member Jayme Goetz pointed out that if tabling the discussion leads to construction delays, the potential money saved by going with another contractor could be lost in the expense paid to Fort Hays for the use of the tennis courts for another season.
“These tennis courts have been needed for decades, decades, so I’m OK with putting that out to bid,” Goetz said. “I just want to make sure we stay on top of it.”
Yarmer said he believes spending decisions are pushed at a faster pace than other decisions. While items like handbook changes have a first and second reading, spending decisions are usually made in one meeting.
“With all the spending stuff it’s like, ‘We gotta do it right now or the kids won’t play tennis forever,’ which is not true,” Yarmer said.
Wilson said it’s the job of administrators to do the work and research and then present the best option to the board.
“Yeah, I don’t have the trust,” Yarmer said.
“That’s your problem,” Wilson said.
The motion to table the discussion until the next board meeting was 4-3, with Yarmer, Park and board member Curt Vajnar voting in favor.
Board member Ken Brooks motioned to accept the Hays High tennis court design and bid services from Mammoth Construction for $30,200. Board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp seconded. The motion passed 5-2 with Park and Yarmer voting against it.
Other items voted on included:
- Approval of the bid for surveillance cameras for the new high school from Nex-Tech for $379,334.88.
- Approval of the presented contract with ATS Classified Staffing Recruitment
The next board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Rockwell Administration Center.