Board approves $1.16 million turf replacement for El Campo ISD stadium

The El Campo Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a $1,157,589 contract with Hellas to replace the high-school stadium turf, trustees voted at the regular meeting on Dec. (date not specified).

Why it matters: The approved proposal includes a shock pad (an "e layer") and a cooling infill (EcoTherm) the district and bidders described as designed to lower field surface temperatures and improve impact performance. District athletic staff and the facilities committee recommended Hellas after reviewing four bids; two bidders were deemed nonresponsive and two met specifications.

Committee recommendation and vendor presentation: The facilities committee and athletic staff noted Hellas previously installed the current field and had provided rapid service for repairs. Tony Heath, a Hellas representative who attended the meeting, described the recommended system as Hellas' Matrix Helix turf with an e-layer shock pad. Heath said the pad carries a 25-year warranty and the turf an eight-year warranty: "The pad, is going to, be something that's going to make it really, really a nice, surface in terms of the g max testing," he said. On warranties he confirmed, "The turf itself carries an 8 year warranty."

Product features and safety rationale: Hellas and district staff emphasized three selling points: vendor responsiveness, product quality and lifecycle cost. The recommended system uses a monofilament fiber designed to resist matting and a pea-gravel base layer plus EcoTherm cooling pellets in the infill. Heath said the EcoTherm infill "cools the field 20 to 25 degrees" in typical conditions and that the pellets retain moisture and release it by evaporation. District staff also told trustees that replacing the field without a pad would shorten long-term service life and increase future replacement costs.

Procurement and vote: The board heard from the committee that four companies submitted bids: Symmetry, FieldTurf, Paragon and Hellas. Two bids were found nonresponsive due to undersurface (pad) deficiencies; of the two responsive bids, Hellas was recommended though not the lowest. A motion "that we approve the alternate 1 proposal from Hellas for $1,157,589" was made and seconded; trustees voted by raised hands and the motion passed.

Implementation and maintenance: The Hellas representative said the installation includes a groomer and a repair kit; training for maintenance staff and coaches was included in the bid. Heath said the EcoTherm pellets have been used for about six years and that Hellas has not had a dissatisfied client with the product.

Ending: Trustees approved the contract and the board thanked the vendor and committee members. The district did not announce a construction timeline at the meeting; Hellas' representative said he would remain in contact about next steps.