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Council hears bids to tend to Gold Star Park tennis courts

By Nancy Taylor 3 min read

Marietta City Council approved an ordinance Thursday allowing the city to advertise for bids to completely rebuild two Gold Star Park tennis courts and add four new Indian Acres pickleball courts.

An alternate bid would add asphalt overlay resurfacing for a few more tennis courts.

The ordinance that council passed on an emergency basis, however, did not contain the usual wording that the city is also "authorized to enter into a contract or contracts" for the work.

"Let's make it clear. The purpose of the bid is to ascertain the real cost," Councilman Bret Allphin said after the vote Thursday night.

When the project was first considered by council, it was generally understood the money would probably come from American Rescue Plan Act funds. But after months of using those funds for a large number of worthwhile projects, some council members are thinking it's time to step back and take a look at things.

At a group of committee meetings Thursday morning, Councilwoman Susan Boyer expressed concern that the park improvements involve a large amount of money and she didn't think that at this time it was wise to proceed with them until council could understand the status of various city ARPA projects and commitments.

City Engineer Joe Tucker, who presented the proposal Thursday morning in order to have it on the agenda Thursday night, said council had indicated earlier it wanted the improvements. The engineering work, drawings and paperwork are now done. He suggested it would make sense to go ahead and ask for bids in order to get an accurate idea of actual costs. The bids would be good for 60 days after bid opening. Various committee members eventually indicated the bids-but-no-contract wording was acceptable to send to council. With emergency rules passage, the bids can now be advertised Dec. 23 and opened Jan. 17.

As far as details on projects, status and priorities, Tucker gave Thursday morning committee members a 22-page spread sheet he has prepared as "a start" on providing the information council wants. He said he knows the list is not complete because he's not involved in a number of things outside the engineering department.

"But I'm aware that council is very anxious to get this information," he said, noting that he met with Mayor Josh Schlicher and Safety Service Director Steve Wetz about ARPA project information Wednesday.

In other business Thursday night, council removed language appropriating ARPA funds for payment of certain expenses incurred during the course of normal operation, but kept ARPA in a related ordinance for a new purchase.

¯ Ordinance 158 authorizes a maintenance contract with Tyler Technologies of Dallas, Texas, for maintenance, licensing updates and technical support services for the Marietta City Auditor's current computer software and time attendance module for the 2022 to 2023 year in the amount of $69,001.70. The stipulation that the amount would be paid with ARPA funds was removed from the legislation. The amended ordinance was passed after third reading.

¯ Ordinance 159 authorizes a contract with Tyler Technologies for purchase of new computer software and time attendance module for the City Auditor's office and using $70,264 from ARPA funds for payment. The ordinance passed after third reading.

¯ One other ordinance that passed after third reading establishes the position of a Pre-trial Services Officer for Marietta Municipal Court and further establishes the position's salary, duties, responsibilities, qualifications and requirements.

Council will hold a special meeting Dec. 29. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Jan. 5.

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