Williamsport staff recommend $860,860 base bid for Elm Park improvements; lighting would exceed grant budget

Williamsport public-works staff told the committee on March 12 that two bids arrived for Elm Park improvements and recommended awarding the base construction package to Big Rock Paving at a base bid of $860,860. Staff said alternate lighting for the new pickleball/tennis courts would raise the total to about $1.1 million, exceeding the project's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget.

City engineer/staff reported the project scope includes resurfacing the courts, removing three tennis courts to install six pickleball courts (leaving three tennis courts), new walkways to the three ball fields, pavilion and concession areas, parking including six regular spaces and two ADA spaces, and new women's restroom facilities. Scott Livermore and Bill Scott (city engineer) discussed the bids; the second bidder, Landserve, submitted a base bid of $894,177.90 and an alternate for lighting that produced a larger total.

"We received two bids. This is for the improvements at Elm Park... Big Rock Paving was the low bid. Their base bid was $860,860," said the presenting staff member. He said the lighting alternate price for Big Rock was $239,140, which would bring the total to about $1,100,000; staff said their budget for the project is $872,000, funded by CDBG. Because the lighting alternate would exceed available grant funding, staff recommended awarding only the base bid if council approves contracting.

Committee members asked for the bid backup and low-bid package; staff said bid materials arrived late Friday afternoon and they would circulate the low-bid package to committee members and council before final award.

No formal award vote or resolution adoption appears in the transcript; staff characterized the recommendation and said they would provide bid packages for review.