Algood Park Phase One Bids Come In Higher Than Anticipated

Bids have come in higher than anticipated for phase one of Algood’s 21-acre park.

$675,000 was allocated in the budget for the park, however three bids all came in over $1 million dollars. City Administrator Keith Morrison said the city will have to reconvene with bidders about moving forward.

“Try to go over some things, possibly release a statement to the bidders to see what their input is,” Morrison said. “Try to get some ideas where maybe we can lower some costs and make this a little more acceptable to budget.”

Morrison said the Algood City Council will meet Monday night to discuss its plan to build the park during its work session. Morrison said he expects awarding the park bid to be pushed back to August.

“We anticipated it starting within 180 days and being done within six months,” Morrison said. “So we’re probably going to have to push this off until August for approval to give us some time to gather some data and try to look for some ways to find some cost savings.”

The first phase of the park at the end of Thompson Lane and Main Street includes an entrance, parking, bathrooms and a walking track. Morrison said he hopes the bid can be awarded in August, with work beginning at the end of that month.

“I don’t know that it will require a total rebid,” Morrison said. “I think we’ll try to work with the bidders we’ve got and see what we can come up with.”

Morrison said the goal of the first phase was to have something people can use for exercise and recreation. The Algood City Council will meet Monday Night and Tuesday night with this on the agenda.