Decatur board tables mower purchase, hears updates on pickleball courts, memorial and dog park

City park staff updated the board on multiple Parks and Recreation projects and the board voted to table a proposed mower purchase until staff obtains competing bids and clarifies whether grant funds can be used.

Parks staff said a restroom/bathroom project has a timeline to begin and that a vendor meeting is planned in February; two tennis courts near the middle school are proposed to be converted into six pickleball courts with resurfacing of larger courts planned this summer. The memorial-area landscaping design is under review; staff said they will attempt to keep the project under $10,000 or, if not, put it out to bid. Dog park equipment has arrived and Public Works will install it depending on available schedules.

Regarding equipment procurement, staff reported the existing mower has more than 400 hours and is not commercial-rated. A vendor offered a $66,000 trade-in value for the existing mower plus a $3,600 discount, but final out-of-pocket figures were unclear in the packet. Board members asked whether purchases over $10,000 require competitive bids and whether grant funds earmarked for parks could be applied. After discussing funding and bid requirements, the board voted to table the mower purchase until the February meeting to allow staff time to gather bids and funding information.

Why it matters: Park improvements and equipment purchases affect public recreation access and maintenance costs; the board wants competitive pricing and clarity about allowable use of grant funds before making a capital purchase.

Next steps: Staff will obtain bids for the mower model, confirm grant eligibility for the purchase, and return to the board at the next regular meeting with comparative pricing and recommendations.