Cannon County board moves to solicit bids to repair high‑school game field and practice areas

The Cannon County Board of Education spent the bulk of its March 12 workshop considering two repair options for the high‑school football field and adjacent practice areas after a presentation from Coach Hench and the Touchdown Club.

Coach Hench outlined a high‑cost option for a full renovation that would regrade roughly 80,000 square feet, replace or repair irrigation, add topsoil and sand, restore the field crown and lay full Bermuda sod across the playing surface. A lower‑cost option would target about 20,000 square feet in the worst‑worn areas with localized sod replacement and sprinkler head adjustments. “Either route we go here is a need a big time need,” Coach Hench said, stressing player safety and the field’s divots and low spots.

Board members discussed the tradeoffs between a complete overhaul and staged repairs. One board member noted that repairs to the main game field would also benefit soccer teams, youth leagues and middle‑school practices, and urged the board to consider bundled work across all athletic fields to avoid repeated mobilization costs. Participants suggested three bid packages—A (full field), B (targeted repairs) and C (practice area/lighting)—so the district could award portions separately.

Cost and timing details were a focus. Staff and speakers identified the smaller bid amount discussed in the meeting as $49,495 for the targeted repair option; Coach Hench estimated interim practice‑field fixes (topsoil, sand and limited sod) would run roughly $6,000–$7,000 if the district used local labor and contracted materials. He also told the board the team would have to remain off the field for approximately “6 to 8 weeks” if a full renovation proceeded, a window that could push work into the next season unless the board moves quickly to solicit bids.

On the procurement timeline, staff said bids would need to be advertised and run for roughly two weeks; board members emphasized the need to begin the process quickly to allow a July start if the full renovation is approved. The board agreed in principle to advertise bids for options A and B at the regular meeting that follows the workshop and to bring contract approval back for a vote; no formal motion or recorded vote was taken during the workshop.

Next steps: staff will prepare bid documents and timelines for the board’s consideration at its next meeting, and the district and community stakeholders discussed phasing work so practice fields remain usable while the main field is restored.