Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Joplin R-8 Board to vote on $700,000 replacement of artificial turf at Junge Field, track resurfacing

A $706,444 proposal to replace the artificial turf and resurface the track at Junge Field is expected to be approved by the Joplin R-8 Board of Education when it meets 7 p.m. today in the Memorial Education Building.



In the documentation provided to the board, Athletic Director Matt Hiatt notes that the current turf at Junge has been in place since 2007, while the track has not been resurfaced since 2005.

"The surface has served the district well with 12 football seasons as well as hosting many other activities throughout a typical school year. The JHS band, JHS soccer team, and JHS/MS track teams have all used the facility. In addition, community organizations have used the facility under the district's facility use agreement."










Hiatt and other district administrators recommended the board accept the low bid of $706,444 from Mid-America Sports Construction. Two other bids were received- $709,701 from Shaw Sports Turf and $978.255 from Hellas.

Memorial Education Building Parking Lot Lighting

The board will also act on a proposal to install seven four-headed light poles in the Memorial Education Building parking lot.

District officials are recommending the low bid of $43,355.27 from Joplin Industrial Electric. Other bidders were Layne Electric $52,200 and CDL Electric $71,357.

Other items on the board agenda

The board is also scheduled to do the following:

-Approve the low bid of $49,087 from Mid-America Roofing for partial roof replacement at Kelsey Norman

-Approve the low bid of $49,390 from Joplin Roofing for partial roof replacement at McKinley

-Approve the low bid of $367,145 from Midwest Transit for four buses

The board will discuss personnel, legal matters and employee negotiations during a closed session scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow...

Anonymous said...

Way, way, way too much money spent on athletics. It's a shame.

Anonymous said...

That's $150 a day over the lifespan for those surfaces.

Anonymous said...

I have never priced artificial turf, so I have no idea what the average cost is. I do know that people who make $30,000 a year see a number like $700,000 and it seems astronomical. It does say that perhaps the school district brings in very large amount of tax revenue that the people of Joplin should question if its needed.