Council OKs contract with DuraEdge to renovate high school baseball field

The Evanston City Council authorized a contract with DuraEdge Products, Inc., for renovation of the Evanston High School baseball field by approving Resolution 25-08 Tuesday.

Kim Larson, representing Evanston Parks and Recreation, told the council the city owns the high school field and operates it under the board’s operating agreement; the school district realized savings on a locker-room project, and Parks and Rec proposed using part of that money to renovate the infield and associated turf. “DuraEdge is a company that we’ve worked with before,” Larson said, describing DuraEdge’s work to bring in new infield material, laser-level fields and rebuild pitching mounds.

Larson said the city’s available savings would leave the project short; she characterized the shortfall during the meeting as being “shy about $6,000” and said the Evanston Youth Baseball Board would talk about providing additional funds. The record does not include a final, itemized budget in the meeting transcript.

Councilors asked about hiring preferences and local hiring. A council member noted that DuraEdge is based outside Wyoming and raised the municipal preference rules; a council member said the company “has to contact the local workforce center and repost jobs for 9 days for locals,” and staff said they would follow up to confirm contract language and compliance with preference requirements. Parks and Rec staff noted that when DuraEdge worked locally in the past they used some local employees and local-area contractors for portions of the work.

The council moved and approved the resolution authorizing the agreement with DuraEdge. Council members did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote.