Jackson schools turfing project moves forward

Jackson School District is moving ahead with plans to resurface two fields with artificial turf, according to a recent district news release.

The board of education approved an agreement March 26 for artificial turf to be installed at the high-school football and soccer stadiums, the release stated.

The approved project totals $1,380,555 and includes material, labor and preparation work to both sites.

AGT Sports submitted the chosen bid, according to the release, and financing for the project will come from a local bank.

The district requested lease purchase proposals from local banks to finance the project. Wood & Huston Bank proposed the lowest rates and was chosen to finance the project.

Lease-payments for the project will come from the district�s capital projects fund and will not affect current or future education, security, or construction projects in the district, the release stated.

In February, Jackson superintendent John Link provided the Southeast Missourian with a project cost estimate of approximately $1.8 million, significantly higher than the accepted bid.

District spokeswoman Merideth Pobst said the difference between estimate and bid was just the difference between estimate and actual.

�That was a positive,� Pobst said.

Pobst said the district hopes to have the football field portion of the project completed by about mid-June, weather permitting, and the soccer field by mid-August.

At the Feb. 13 board meeting, board member Greg Farrow asked about current maintenance costs to keep up the football and soccer fields� natural turf, and Link and Bleau Deckerd, associate superintendent of finance and business operations, said while they do not have exact numbers, they do know there is considerable cost, both in material and in labor.

Deckerd said every day during football season, three to five maintenance workers are on the field, repairing it, or painting or mowing.

In February, Link said the turf fields will allow for less maintenance, for improved safety because of the installed shock pads under the turf, and for the possibility of future construction in spaces now needed for practice fields.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

614 E. Adams St., Jackson, Mo.