Effingham County commissioners are expected to approve a contract for architectural and engineering services in conjunction with improvements at the Effingham County Recreation and Parks’ Highway 119 complex.
Commissioners approved a proposal from CHA Sports in Savannah of $79,500 to design the planned improvements at the Highway 119 recreation complex. The county received seven proposals, and CHA Sports’ was the lowest submitted.
“CHA Sports displayed a wealth of prior experience in sports complex design, master plan and landscape design,” said county community relations director Adam Kobek. “And they also had the lowest fee.”
The highest fee submitted was $168,450. CHA Sports’ bid was the lowest by more than $25,000.
As part of the package, the improvements planned for the complex include site, civil, electrical and architectural work and a new gymnasium. The county has identified more than $1.75 million in its short-term work program for the Highway 119 complex.
Commissioner Phil Kieffer asked if the county needed to procure more land around the complex.
“I want to make sure we’re going down the right road,” he said.
The complex is on the site of an old private school and is in need of updating because of long-term and frequent use. Under consideration for the complex are three baseball/softball fields with covered bleachers and dugouts, playground equipment, a concessions pavilion, restroom facilities, four scoreboards, lighting and an irrigation system and a connection to the water and sewer lines. Concessions and restrooms currently are serviced by on-site well and septic systems.
Also in the works is a new gymnasium.
Commissioners also are expected to vote Tuesday on adopting a quote from Integrated Science and Engineering, Inc., for surveying, environmental and engineering services for the Atlas Sand property. The county bought the 350-acre former sand mine 12 years ago. At one time, plans were formulated to turn the old sand mine into a regional state park.
Commissioners previously approved $50,000 out of the short-term work program for planning the Atlas site. Integrated Science and Engineering’s bid was for $69,241.
At their May 20 meeting, commissioners awarded a contract and issued a notice to proceed for McCall Road restriping to Peek Pavement Marking. The county has fielded complaints that the road markings on McCall in front of Blandford Elementary School are difficult to see.
“This would re-stripe from Highway 21 all the way to Blue Jay Road,” interim county administrator Toss Allen said.
Peek Pavement submitted a bid of $32,620 for the work and they previously re-striped Hodgeville Road. The contract calls for re-striping of McCall Road from Highway 21 to Blue Jay Road. McCall Road north of Blue Jay is being re-surfaced.
“There just aren’t that many companies that do this stuff,” Allen said.