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Tennis and pickleball players who went to a Thursday meeting of Marietta City Council's Lands, Buildings and Parks Committee found out the bids on work at two city parks are bouncing way out of bounds.
City Engineer Joe Tucker recapped that the city had proposed completely rebuilding two Gold Star Park tennis courts and adding four new Indian Acres pickleball courts. The city bid estimate was $375,000. Of the three bids recently received and opened, only two came in on time and could be considered. They were for amounts running a little more than $532,000 and $618,000.
"This is a specialty niche, so we don't have much bid history on this. I do know Athens had a similar experience, all of their bids were more than 10% over estimates, and they're going back to the drawing board," Tucker said.
"But Parkersburg has three new pickleball courts at City Park, and they paid $112,000 for them. They were bid two years ago and built in the spring of 2022. Maybe we could talk to them and follow the way they approached it. The courts look very nice," he said.
As he discussed Parkersburg's three new courts, Tucker turned to pickleball players in the Armory meeting room Thursday evening.
"Do you think we could maybe do three courts instead of four? Would that work," he asked and those present told him that could work.
Tucker resumed talking about the Marietta bids that had come in.
"One of the bidders told me that there was $200,000 tied up in just the fencing. That boggles my mind."
Parkersburg's fencing also looked like it might be an option, he said.
"It looked really good, I thought."
Tucker will also be talking to the sports contractor who helped the city put together its estimate.
"We'll have a detailed review session and we'll ask, 'What happened?,'" adding that advisory contractor was also one of the very high bids submitted.
Councilwoman Susan Boyer said that if prices don't come down, the city may get something done, but it probably won't be a major overhaul and new courts.
Councilman Bret Allphin said he thought the project could at least be put on the city's list of projects to consider for American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Thursday's council committee meeting also touched on finances and pricing for the upcoming season at the Marietta Aquatic Center. The pool there has recently gotten a new coating and equipment has been upgraded, probably amounting to about $200,000 being spent there last year.
The city has a two-year renewable contract with a company that manages the pool and it's time to put that contract out for bid again, Public Safety and Service Director Steve Wetz said. It would be good to have the bids back by the end of February, Councilwoman Cassidi Shoaf said.
Wetz noted the Aquatic Center did have a $59,000 operating loss this past season. An increase in minimum wage, bad weather and higher costs on food supplies were probably all factors, he said, but the loss might warrant more study.
A $5 increase in the price of a pass and a $1 ticket price increase were discussed, but there were no specific decisions made. Several council members thought increases should be considered carefully.
"Are we pricing ourselves out of area rates?" Council President Susan Vessels asked. "It's cheaper other places, like St. Marys," she said.
Councilman Mike Scales echoed the concern. "I think we should check Vienna and Parkersburg," he said. "Are we competitive?"
Nancy Taylor can be reached at ntaylor@newsandsentinel.com