Franklin County approves Phase 1 Lakeview Park contracts, outlines plan to finance complex

Franklin County’s fiscal court on Wednesday voted to award three construction contracts for Phase 1 of the county’s Lakeview Park sports complex, while spending the meeting probing how the county will pay for the $14.1 million project and which design alternates to defer.

The court authorized award of the general-trades package, plumbing/HVAC and electrical contracts and instructed staff to preserve alternate pricing for later consideration. Judge Mueller, who led the session, said the project has been under development for more than three years and represents a step toward implementing a 258-page master plan developed with extensive public input.

Why it matters: The judges and magistrates framed the complex as an economic development effort that could drive hotel stays, restaurant and retail spending and generate revenue to support other county projects. County leaders said a newly enacted 2% hotel fee—expected to begin July 1—will seed a sports commission that will help service debt, and the court discussed a financing mix that includes ARPA funds, drawn bond proceeds and new bonding.

What the court approved and the scope The court voted to award the three prime packages needed to start Phase 1 construction: the general trades package for site work, turf fields, concrete and premanufactured buildings; the plumbing and HVAC package; and the electrical package. The design for Phase 1 builds two adjacent field complexes (a fourplex and a threeplex) with seven playable fields, spectator seating, two commercial-style concession kitchens and supporting restrooms and water stations; batting cages and some shelter/finish items were listed as alternates the court will consider later.

Design, alternates and value engineering Randy of Hitchcock Design Group said the master-plan process emphasized both community use and revenue-generating features. Contractors presented value-engineering changes that, they said, reduced the bid totals by about $1.3–$1.4 million without changing the project’s overall function — for example, selecting a different turf manufacturer, slightly reducing tree caliper sizes and modifying drainage-pipe diameter after engineer review.

“There were changes we could make that still provide the same end result as the master plan,” a contractor said, explaining some manufacturer substitutions and other deductions.

Financing and long-term costs Magistrates pressed county staff and the bond advisor for details on how the project will be financed and the expected operating and replacement costs. The court discussed using roughly $6 million of ARPA funds that were moved into the general fund, drawing approximately $2.5–$3 million from previously issued bond proceeds, and bonding the remainder; the exact mix will be set by the treasurer and bond advisor in coming weeks and would require a formal bond ordinance and readings.

Officials estimated first-year hotel-fee revenue at about $600,000, a fund designed to flow to the new sports commission. The court also clarified a maintenance/replacement estimate after one magistrate suggested an annual $2 million upkeep figure; Judge Mueller said the more accurate planning figure is replacement of turf in about a 12-year cycle at roughly $250,000 per field.

“[This] is a revenue generator for our whole county,” Charlie, the parks director, said, adding that tournament weekends would bring lodging and restaurant business to the county.

Management and next steps County leaders said the sports commission will be formed and will issue an RFP for a sports-management company to operate the commercial aspects of the complex; that contractor would typically handle concessions, gate management and sponsorships. The commission must submit annual budgets to the fiscal court.

Contract awards and procedural steps At the end of the session the court: authorized award of bid package 2 (general trades) to Rise and Sun Development Company; bid package 3 (plumbing/HVAC) to Infinity Design and Construction Group; and bid package 4 (electrical) to Blue Sky Electric. County staff said they will ask bidders to hold alternate pricing through August to allow time for the sports commission and commission staff to finalize scopes and fundraising for alternates, and contractors will provide a draw/payment schedule to clarify near-term cash-flow needs.

The court’s action authorizes the contracts; financing details and any bond ordinance will return to the court for vote in subsequent meetings. The judge said signed contract documents will trigger delivery of final shop drawings and that the county will circulate those drawings to the court when available.

Votes at a glance - Award of Bid Package 2 (general trades) to Rise and Sun Development Company — approved by the court. - Award of Bid Package 3 (plumbing/HVAC) to Infinity Design and Construction Group — approved by the court. - Award of Bid Package 4 (electrical) to Blue Sky Electric — approved by the court.

What’s next County staff and contractors will provide a draw schedule and hold alternate pricing while the court finalizes its financing plan and appoints members to the sports commission; a bond ordinance or other financing resolution will be required before any borrowing is executed.

Reporting note: Quotes and factual points in this article come from the fiscal court’s March meeting transcript and the county’s on-the-record discussion of bid awards, alternates and financing.