| Photo by Jocelyn King | Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones briefed school board members Monday night on the details of purchasing new turf for Wheeling Island Stadium.
WHEELING – Wheeling Island Stadium, which was covered by flooding earlier this month, now has new artificial turf.
The Ohio County Board of Education approved the emergency purchase of turf from AstroTurf on Monday night at a cost not to exceed $610,000. However, the vote was not unanimous, with a 3-2 vote in favor of the acquisition.
Board President Andy Gerber and commissioners Pete Chakalos and Eric Schramm all agreed to buy now to have the turf installed in time for sports teams' summer practices, which begin in June. Voted yes.
Commissioners David Croft and Molly Aderholt voted “no,” asking the board to instead introduce the bill so that the contract and its price can be further scrutinized before the board's next May 13 meeting. I asked for it.
Aderholt suggested the board reconsider other parts of the stadium as it considers spending more than $600,000 on new turf.
Schramm moved Monday night to “end” discussion about the new stadium.
“We're not going to build a new stadium,” he said. “We have no intention of letting go of the most iconic stadium in West Virginia and the region this year.”
Schram continued that Turf's bid would need to be accepted “whether it's this meeting or the next meeting.” He called discussions about the new stadium “a dream come true for the future,” something that had already taken place in 2004 when he was on the board.
“Bids are closed. The people who are going to do the lawn are going to do it and the design is finished,” he said. “If you all want to talk sometime in the future, please do so…but starting tonight we have to re-grass for the people out there. We have the funds to do that.”
Stephen Bieniec, business manager for Ohio County Schools, said the district will use the carryover money to pay for the lawn.
Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones said at the beginning of his presentation to the board that the turf, which was installed in 2015, is now in its ninth year and nearing the end of its expected 10-year lifespan.
“In terms of timing, I wanted to replace it because after a year or two, I would have no choice but to replace it anyway,” he explained.
Jones added that it will take at least 45 days to order the materials and do the work.
Croft asked if the district had received any other estimates for the turf project. Jones responded that there is only one because the project is in a state of emergency, and that AstroTurf is part of a state cooperative agreement.
“If we don't do it very quickly, we won't have any fields to play on,” Jones said.
Croft said there are other arenas where athletes can practice this summer, and he is concerned about not getting a competitive bid for the project.
He asked Bieniek if the $610,000 price tag was a “reasonable amount” for the district.
Bieniek said yes. He explained that AstroTurf is part of the state's cooperative agreement, so the district must use that company if it uses the cooperative purchasing method. He added that the West Virginia Department of Education is already scrutinizing the company's prices and practices.
“For the past few years, we've been talking about maybe moving the stadium somewhere where it won't flood. Maybe we should spend $610,000 on an island and have that conversation now before it floods again this year.” “No,” Aderholt suggested. “It's heart-burning to spend that much money in a place that might flood again this time next year.”
She suggested “why not save the money to put a stadium somewhere else,” and instead ask sports teams to move to other stadiums in the area, such as West Liberty University, Wheeling University's stadium, Wheeling・We proposed that Central Catholic High School use facilities such as the one on 16th Street that is already being used.
“Given the number of teams that use Wheeling Island Stadium, I think it's ideal,” Garber said. “But the kids will start using it right away, so we have to move quickly to get that field in the right place.”
He added that while teams could practice elsewhere, options for holding actual games would be more limited and come at additional cost.
“I would encourage you to consider the possibility of looking at a new location,” Gerber continued. “It's unfortunate as we continue to battle the issue of flooding in the stadium.”
Croft said he believes there will be enough time for contractors to set up the site even if the board holds the motion, considers the matter further and votes on it at its May 13 meeting. Stated.
“I agree that a new facility is needed,” Chakalos said. “That would be a huge thing for our children, and it would be a flood-free place. For example, if it was the Highlands, if there was a flood there, someone would have to build an ark. .”
He suggested many of the local facilities are in use and transporting students to WLU for practices and games is “not practical.”
“I think we need to give our kids every advantage,” Chakalos continued. “If I don’t feel like the field is ready, I’ll just do it and hope for the best.”
