Tuscaloosa council approves seven public-works and service contracts, including Bowers Park pickleball project

Tuscaloosa City Council approved seven contract and service items Wednesday, ranging from small facility repairs to a construction contract for new pickleball courts at Bowers Park.

Councilor Selvin and staff advanced routine operational contracts for guardrail maintenance and roadway striping and presented larger projects including the Bowers Park courts. Council members voiced questions about scope and funding before each item was approved by voice vote.

The approvals included a minor public-works contract with Alabama Guardrail for guardrail maintenance not to exceed $50,000 and a separate contract with Alabama ProStripe for roadway striping not to exceed $50,000. Both items were described by a staff member as recurring, budgeted operational contracts whose annual use varies with need.

Tim, a staff member presenting the parks project, described the Bowers Park Pickleball Courts project as including 16 regulation-size courts plus three ADA championship-size courts (19 total), a covered area for the three central courts, and a restroom building. He said the project duration is 240 days and that staff received six bids on April 3; WAR Construction was confirmed as the low bidder. Funding for the project…