Lowndes County plans to borrow an additional $1 million to fund a downtown Columbus soccer complex.
The Board of Supervisors have $3.25 million set aside for the project. Recent bids have put the total construction cost for the complex at about $4.26 million, City Engineer Kevin Stafford announced to the board Tuesday.
In an update to the Columbus City Council later that day, Stafford said the county had agreed to four bids, at a cost of about $4.06 million.
In the first phase, contractors who won the four low bids will build a north bathroom building and concessions stand, dig a well for field irrigation, build and landscape the athletic fields, and erect field and facility lighting.
The work will focus on the area immediately around the fields, while other planned projects — like nature trails and a Riverwalk connector bridge — will be postponed.
The Columbus-based Phillips Contracting Company was the low bid on the most costly project, agreeing to build nine soccer fields, one football field and a water feature at the complex entrance for about $3.26 million, Stafford said. The bid included a champion field, lowered about 6 feet to give a stadium-seating feel.
Phillips should begin construction within the next month, and will have 495 days to complete the project, Stafford said.
To offset the higher-than-expected costs, County Administrator Ralph Billingsley suggested the board take out a $1 million loan from the Mississippi Development Authority”s Capital Improvements Revolving Loan Program.
The CAP loan requires little up-front money and offers a loan term of up to 20 years.
Supervisors approved the loan 4-0, with District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks abstaining from the vote.
Before the vote, Brooks had tried to table the matter until the end of the month. The project, he said, already has “mushroomed” and shows potential to continue to grow beyond projections.
“There are other facets of the soccer complex that are not even mentioned here. This is a lot of money,” Brooks said, requesting an in-depth summary of plans be submitted.
Brooks supports the project, he said, but wanted to review plans before approving additional funding for “a project of this magnitude.”
Supervisors previously allocated $3.23 million toward the project. The city of Columbus is partnering with the county on the project, offering city-owned land and in-kind services.
“The only thing we lack is $1 million. I think we need to go ahead and approve it, so the contractors can begin,” said District 1 Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders. “If we delay it too long, we will have to rebid it, and then we”re going to go into fall and winter and wet weather, and we”re not going to be ready for soccer season.”
The recent bids follow a decision by the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority to rebid the project, in parts, after bids came in at more than $5 million in December. Columbus Light and Water agreed to install lighting at no cost to the city or county.
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