By Sam Kaufman
January 26, 2020 – Andrews County News
The Lakeside Ball Park project is moving ahead with some demolition efforts completed and lighting installed. The commissioners court on Thursday approved several invoices regarding the $2.5 million project to renovate the fields at Lakeside and add lighting, restrooms and a concession area. Also, the project will include resurfacing the six ball fields at the county’s Sports Complex in southeast Andrews. Andrews County Parks Director Justin Cheyne said two separate bids were awarded for the project to keep costs down.
Commissioners on Thursday approved an invoice of $365,000 from McNeill Sport Turf LLC for the first installment on sports lighting work in progress and completed, and demolition of infrastructure.
Furthermore, the court approved invoices of $17,500 from Dreamworks Construction for demolition of existing buildings and disposal of debris, and $2,000 from Halo Architects for construction administration services.
McNeil Sports Turf representatives recently told Cheyne they believe the project could be completed sometime in May barring any hold-ups. The project is being funded exclusively through Waste Control Specialists’ monies that go to the county as part of a five percent surcharge from gross receipts on the company’s Compact low-level radioactive waste disposal facility.
It was requested by the Andrews Baseball Association and will provide a sparkling facility expected to draw various tournaments that could further enhance the economy with visitors coming in and making purchases here, according to county officials. The Lakeside Park project will involve new fields, along with adding lighting, fencing, stands, concession stands, and restrooms.
“It will be a complete renovation of the fields with new backstops, dugouts and they will redo the fields,” Cheyne explained.
McNeil Sport Turf has done previous work in Andrews. It’s the same company that built the local high school fields, according to Cheyne.
The six fields at the Sports Complex in southeast Andrews will also be renovated through the project. Part of that effort would include crushed granite field material.
In other business:
-The court approved a request by American Momentum Bank to release a security pledged against certain Andrews County cash deposits.
-The court will revisit a proposal of $539,199 from CSI Cabling for a fiber optic project to complete a fiber optic ring to the new jail and other county facilities.
-The court will revisit a consideration to approve Earlene Broyles to work in the district clerk’s office.
-The court heard a monthly report of taxes collected by Tax Assessor/Collector Robin Harper.
-The court approved a professional agreement with Tyler Technologies to configure new state legislative changes to the JP office for court costs, reimbursement fees and fines. The work will cost $1,400.