“Sticker shock” was the phrase used by more than one person last week when the bids for new pickleball courts were opened, and the lowest bid for the base option was almost $1 million, far above what was unofficially budgeted.
County officials and pickleball enthusiasts were all surprised Thursday, Aug.
1, at the cost. It was roughly two times the amount the board of commissioners had informally discussed paying with SPLOST funds, though no official vote earmarking a certain amount for the project has been taken.
The request for proposals called for four alternatives: 12, 16, or 20 courts, with a pavilion with restrooms as an option for any of the first three alternatives. Three bids were received, and Dyer Construction of Milledgeville was the apparent low bidder for the initial 12 courts at a cost of $925,374, approximately $200,000 less than the second lowest bid.
When comparing costs for the options, however, if the county chose to construct all 20 courts and the fabricated building, SmithBuilt Construction Group would be the apparent low bidder at $1,401,100, almost $36,000 lower than Dyer.
Should any of the three options as to the number of courts be chosen without the building, Dyer would appear to be the low bidder.
Plans had called for the commissioners to discuss the project and possibly award a bid at their meeting this past Tuesday night, but it was not on the agenda. County Manager Carlos Tobar said in his report to the commissioners that the bids had been opened and were being analyzed.
Tobar had very little to say following the bid opening.
“I looked at what bids came in at from other cities and counties, and the bids we received are similar. However,” he acknowledged, “I would say we all had ‘sticker shock.’ I don’t want to say more than we’re looking for a solution.”
Steve Franks is the unofficial head of a group of pickleballers who play at the recreation complex several mornings a week.
He was on hand for the bid opening and later reported the news to some of his fellow enthusiasts.
“Two words come to mind … sticker shock,” he said.
District 3 Commissioner Sammy Hall, on the other hand, did not have that feeling.
“I am not surprised at the cost,” he said this past Tuesday, “and not sure of the direction at this point.” Milledgeville Pickleball Club President Jeff Moore stressed that efforts must continue.
“We will continue to work with the board of commissioners to find a way to fund the proposed pickleball facility,” he said. “There are a lot of moving parts to wrangle within the current financial budget. We will need to get creative to find a funding source, whether it is through additional county financing, grants, or our year projections for a payment plan.
“It is apparent and obvious that the current courts are in a state of disrepair,” Moore noted, “and eight courts no longer support the number of players playing on a daily basis. Eight courts gives an opportunity for 32 players at one time. At peak playing times, we have 60-70 players show up.”