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 was identified as coming from bond funds. The transcript did not specify the contract dollar amount for the WAR Construction award.

A staff member described a $4,500 minor public-works contract with Browning Masonry to construct a brick pedestal to match the Benjamin Barnes YMCA brickwork and hold a plaque for the Marshall statues. Another item authorized Budget Blinds to replace 21 blinds in the records-room entrance at the Tuscaloosa Police Department, with the expense charged to the facility-renewal budget.

The council also approved a bundled advertising contract with Lamar Outdoor for $121,250. Staff said the cost will be allocated across multiple budgets — public education, public-safety recruitment, water branding, A&E (for Mercedes-Benz concert promotion) and other funds — and that the negotiated package price was about one-third of a prior estimate.

Jason, an IT staff member, presented an annual professional-services renewal with Vision Security Technologies for software licenses used by the police department’s cyber-intelligence unit to access and investigate city camera footage; the contract total was $42,619.75. Jason described Vision Security Technologies as the reseller of the software license rather than the provider of camera hardware or direct analysis services.

All seven items were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Council members asked clarifying questions on project scope, funding sources and contract terms during discussion, and staff provided details such as the number of bids received for the parks project and which budget lines would fund the Lamar contract.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minor public-works contract with Alabama Guardrail for guardrail maintenance (not to exceed $50,000): approved by voice vote.

- Approval of minor public-works contract with Alabama ProStripe for roadway striping (not to exceed $50,000): approved by voice vote.

- Approval of construction contract with WAR Construction for Bowers Park pickleball courts (project duration 240 days; 16 regulation courts + 3 ADA championship courts; six bids received; funding: bond): approved by voice vote. Contract amount: not specified in the transcript.

- Approval of minor public-works contract with Browning Masonry to build a brick pedestal for the Marshall statue plaque ($4,500): approved by voice vote.

- Approval of minor public-works contract with Budget Blinds to install 21 blinds at the Tuscaloosa Police Department (funding: facility renewal): approved by voice vote.

- Approval of professional-services contract with Lamar Outdoor for advertising ($121,250; allocated across multiple funds including public education and public-safety recruitment): approved by voice vote.

- Approval of professional-services contract renewal with Vision Security Technologies for software licenses used by PD Cyber Intelligence ($42,619.75): approved by voice vote.

Background and context

Presenters said most items are annual or routine purchases budgeted in operations or specific capital/bond funds. Staff emphasized that the striping and guardrail contracts cover work the city does not perform in-house and that the Lamar contract was a bundled purchase negotiated to reduce cost. Council members asked whether the parks contract included demolition of a water tank (it does not) and whether the Marshall statues were already on site; staff said the statues’ delivery/placement logistics were being coordinated.

What’s next

Staff will proceed with contract execution and project scheduling for the approved items. The council’s next scheduled meeting was noted as the following Tuesday in April; no additional business was raised before adjournment.