Prattville council approves $783,359 North Highland Park contract after heated debate over wall and single-bid process

The Prattville City Council on Tuesday amended the fiscal 2026 budget and awarded bid 25-0098 to David Bulger Inc. for North Highland Park improvements at a negotiated price not to exceed $783,359.60.

The council action followed extended discussion among council members, city staff, and multiple members of the public about project scope and the park’s retaining wall. Pastor Patrick Lucas, who spoke during public comment, said he had raised concerns about the company’s selection and its past: “this man wasn't honest and they got Union camp for a lot of money that he worked with Dobbs,” Lucas told the council. Reverend Dr. L. White also urged caution and said court records showed a conviction stemming from fraudulent delivery tickets related to local business Union Camp.

Why it matters: North Highland Park is a long‑running neighborhood project for the College Heights area. Residents and some council members pressed for a larger scope, including full replacement of a bottom wall and a future covered activity area, while staff said cost pressures and procurement rules required adjustments.

Most important facts: City records in the meeting packet show one sealed bid was opened on Oct. 9, 2025 for $865,071.60. Under Alabama law cited in the council motion (Code of Ala. §39‑2‑6(b)), when only one bid is received the awarding authority may negotiate a lower price. The city reported a negotiated contract amount of $783,359.60 and an on‑the‑floor budget amendment to reallocate $48,359.60 from lodging fee reserves into the North Highland Park capital line.

Council and staff descriptions: Mayor Bill Gillespie framed the decision as the council’s to make and said staff had vetted the contractor’s prior work: “we're here to take it to the next level,” he said, urging the council to move the project forward. Kelly Carter, identified in the meeting as director overseeing parks work, told the council that multiple adjustments were made to reduce costs and that some earlier optional items (for example, an extra sealant and an added court resurfacer) had been removed to bring the price down. Carter also told the council, “4 different engineers have looked at it and deemed the wall safe,” a point that several council members and residents disputed as the meeting progressed.

Debate and community concerns: Several council members and residents said the park — and especially the lower retaining wall — had been discussed for years and that the community wanted a more complete fix. Councilor Jackson and other speakers accused parts of the project process of poor communication and urged the council to fund a fuller repair in a future budget if needed. Staff and other councilors said the city had revised specifications after an initial bid came in over budget, that some features might be funded as a phase 2, and that work such as hydroseeding was included to save cost now.

Procurement and scope details cited in the meeting: - Original low (and only) sealed bid read Oct. 9, 2025: $865,071.60 (David Bulger Inc.). - Negotiated contract amount presented to council: $783,359.60. - The city recorded a budget amendment moving $48,359.60 into the North Highland Park capital project line. - Staff said some items were cut to reach the lower price (examples discussed: removing an extra sealant item, providing benches in‑house, choosing hydroseeding over sodding, and trimming some pedestrian signal items from Parks & Rec scope).

Outcome and next steps: The resolution awarding the bid and the accompanying budget amendment were adopted by the council. Staff said construction will begin according to the contract schedule; council members and residents asked staff to continue reporting back and to pursue additional funding or phase 2 work (including a possible cover and additional wall work) in future budgets if needed.

Ending: Council members and neighborhood speakers emphasized a desire that the final project meet community expectations and said they would monitor construction and future budgets for additional work.