Turf fields are coming in Holtville, Eclectic and Tallassee after the Elmore County Commission approved nearly $10 million in bids at its Monday meeting.
The awarded bids are approximately $1.5 million under the budgeted amount. It will allow projects already identified in the communities to begin.
“In Holtville that is work on a batting cage and pavilion,” Elmore County chief operations officer Richie Beyer said. “In Tallassee, the $309,000 in savings will go towards a new recreation/community center. In Eclectic that is work between the football and baseball fields. The savings there will go to funds from the Elmore County Board of Education.”
Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis said the work would include an entrance and press box.
The Tallassee savings will create a total of $7.8 million in county funds for a new recreation center.
The artificial turf fields will be installed first on the baseball and softball fields in the Eclectic and Holtville communities. As football seasons end, fields in Holtville, Eclectic and Tallassee will be replaced. It means some spring high school soccer games will be played at 17 Springs for Holtville and in Wetumpka for Elmore County High School and Tallassee High School.
The commission also approved hiring the design firm Dalhoff Thomas to come up with plans to replace some of the grass baseball and softball fields at the Wetumpka Sports Complex with artificial turf.
“That is the next phase of quality of life projects in Wetumpka,” Beyer said.
The commission receives most of the lodging tax from Elmore County short term rentals including hotels. It will be used to purchase $37.5 million bonds over the next year, $12 million is for cash previously authorized in the 17 Springs project.
In other action the Elmore County Commission:
• Approved minutes from the Aug. 12 meeting.
• Approved a memorandum of warrants for the period of Aug. 3 to Aug. 30 in the amount of $8, 411,800.98.
• Authorized the commission chair to execute a memorandum of agreement for management services of 911 communications.
• Appointed chairman Bart Mercer to the ACCA legislative committee.
• Approved a detention agreement with Montgomery for two youth detention beds.
• Approved a long-term detention subsidy contract with the Alabama Department of Youth Services for one detention bed.
• Approved American Rescue Plan reallocations.
• Approved a three-year contract with Johnson Controls for preventative maintenance of systems at the county’s judicial and jail facilities.
• Awarded bids for materials needed throughout the year by the county’s public works department.
• Approved proclamations for Constitution Week and Extentision Week.
The next meeting of the Elmore County Commission is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23.
