Jasper School Board approves seeking bids on artificial turf

ByWITZ AM/FM Reading Time: 2 minutes
A rendering of how the new field could potentially appear. The Football Boosters Club presented about $4 million in improvements to the field and stands to the school board in August 2014. The group has since concentrated on adding artificial turf to the field with plans to pursue the stadium upgrades at a later time.
A rendering of how the new field could potentially appear. The Football Boosters Club presented about $4 million in improvements to the field and stands to the school board in August 2014. The group has since concentrated on adding artificial turf to the field with plans to pursue the stadium upgrades at a later time.

Jasper School Corporation will seek bids to install a new artificial turf football field at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium.

The school corporation’s Clerk of the Works, Scott Stenftenagel, was granted permission to have VPS Architecture of Evansville move ahead with advertising for bids on the project. Those bids will be due in January.

Last month, the turf committee reported it had about $800,000 in funding through donations.

The base bid will include the installation of artificial turf, new goal posts and the addition of electrical service around the field. Catch basins will also be added to catch water runoff and the existing tile drainage pipes will be replaced as part of the system upgrade. The bid will also include a turf warranty and maintenance equipment.

Alternates included in the bid package include: 1) installing asphalt in the ‘D’ zone where the high jump is located, 2) a new light for the flag pole, 3) remove the existing long-jump runway on the visitors side, 4) install the Nike Grind rubber in-fill on the field. The Nike Grind is manufactured from recycled shoe rubber.

George Link with VPS reported that the quote would include a recycled crumb rubber base with several options. One, an eco-fill – a virgin rubber — without recycled rubber; two, an organic fill which needs to be kept moist and would require a new irrigation system.

He added that there’s not enough money to consider an alternate unless one of the base bids comes in much lower than expected. That could leave some money from which one of the two alternatives could be selected.

The board voted to authorize Link to pursue bids on the project although they are still holding out on clearer information regarding costs of maintenance and potential health issues before making a final decision on the project.

If the board proceeds with the project, the field is projected to be completed in time for the 2016 football season.

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