“We spent more money than was first budgeted for the project,” said Zick blaming it on the council’s additions. “They wanted to have lighting on the soccer fields, plus expand the softball field, which added additional engineering costs. These additions to the project were $370,000 extra than was budgeted,” said Zick, who proposed Tuesday night to complete the largest of the two soccer fields first with artificial turf. Zick’s proposal drew a motion to do so from Councilman Russell Jones, a second from Jimmy Davenport and one more yes from council member Pat Bell. Council members Whipple, Nash and McPherson voted no. Zick broke the tie passing his proposal.
“We are getting these fields not at $10, not at $7 but at $4 a square foot for turf, you can’t get anywhere else,” said Zick.
The city received $1.5 million from the state’s Energy & Environmental Protection Cabinet (EEPC) in 2007 from a settlement between the state and Rockwell International, a long-serving industry in Russellville that released Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) into the environment. The money given to the city by the EEPC is earmarked to build the new park and cannot go towards any other project. If the city did not build the park the money would have had to been given back to the state.
DDI rep Scott Randolf reported two quotes Tuesday night at the city council meeting including one for artificial turf and one for natural grass. Randolf said the lowest bid for using natural grass came in at $168,000; however, this bid did not include costs associated with bringing two six inch water lines into the park to water the grass, engineering or maintenance equipment, which would bump the cost up to $250,323 or more. This does not include costs for the necessary electricity to pump the water to the fields. Randolf said the lowest bid to turf the largest soccer field was $245,859.
Zick told his council one field with turf was better than nothing. He said he believed the city could finish the other soccer field with the revenue that will be generated from tournaments and concessions.
“We will have something not many have and I do think it will draw crowds,” said Zick.
Councilman Lanny McPherson asked Zick how the donations were coming. According to Zick, Brother Joe Carrico said he could get Fort Campbell to help build a bridge to connect the two sides of the park that are split by Town Creek. He also stated three scoreboards were being donated as well as playground equipment, backstops, goals, bleachers and possibly blacktop for the parking areas.
Councilman Doug Nash asked the mayor if the donations were in writing. Zick said no and asked Nash if he were questioning Brother Joe’s word. Nash also returned a “no” but added that with donations he would have to see it to believe it.
“I’m going to tell you something right now,” said Zick to Nash, “if you keep stalling the state is gonna say give it back.”
Nash told the mayor he was just asking questions.
The park’s softball field will also have turf, which was part of the original plan due to that side of the park’s stipulations regarding PCBs. The softball does not have lighting which concerns McPherson.
“I don’t think that field will be that useful if you can’t use it at night,” said McPherson. Lighting for the softball field would cost approximately $120,000.
“Regardless of how this goes, we need to do something, we’ve set on this too long,” said Davenport.
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