Lee County staff seek approval to bid batting-cage project at Beulah Park after liability clarified

LEE COUNTY ' Staff asked the commission to approve moving forward with a planned batting-cage structure at Beulah Park, saying the county's risk carrier would provide liability coverage if the county includes the structure in its property coverage and the rate board has agreed to fund the project.

Ryan (parks staff) said the item had been pulled from a previous agenda while staff checked with "CRS" about insurance coverage. "We found out that they will cover the liability, if the Rec. Lee wants to include that in the property out in the open coverage," Ryan said. Staff said the rate board had agreed to fund the project, which would allow construction without a budget amendment, though they noted the county might have to phase the work depending on final costs.

Ryan said the project would be bid out and managed through architects and structural engineers. The plan is to place a new enclosed batting-cage structure at the new park and move equipment from the old facility. "We're looking at enclosing it and keeping it not readily available," Ryan said, describing access control similar to how the county manages ballfields.

Staff requested approval to advance the project to bid, but the transcript records no formal vote. Staff said they had resolved the prior insurance question and would return with cost estimates and any necessary phased plan if the commission approved bidding.