T-R FILE PHOTO A $2.3 million bid was awarded to Garling Construction for Phase 2 of the high school tennis court project.

The Marshalltown High School Racquet Facility is one step closer to becoming a reality.

During a special Marshalltown School Board meeting, a $2.3 million bid was awarded to Garling Construction of Belle Plaine for Phase 2 of the project to be located at 1602 S. Second Avenue. District officials had identified the need for the special meeting so the project would not get delayed any longer.

Superintendent Theron Schutte recommended the board approve the lowest, credible bidder.

The base bid of the project is the new north part which Garling submitted as $775,000; Alternate 1A which is the pickle ball with lighting, $218,000; Alternate 2 is lighting for the southern courts, $180,000; Alternate 3 is the parking lot off Second Avenue, $175,000; and Alternate 4 is the north courts which includes a front entrance and restroom facility as well as a storage building, $971,000.

The other bidders were Burkett Construction and Woodruff Construction.

Schutte said the bid from Garling was $100,000 less than what the district was estimating.

The Marshalltown Community School District will be responsible for $1.3 million of the cost, the city of Marshalltown will commit to $684,000 and the Martha Ellen Tye Foundation will provide $150,000. Schutte said the district is also pursuing a $100,000 construction grant.

Before the bid was awarded, the school board members approved the 28E agreement with the city of Marshalltown for the project.

The agreement states the financial responsibilities of both parties and stipulates half of the city money — $342,000 — will be provided when 50 percent of Phase 2 is completed and the rest when it is finished. Phase 2 is estimated to cost $1.3 million.

Phase 1 of the project includes the design and construction of six new tennis courts south of the existing tennis facility and three lighted pickle ball courts to the east of the same facility.

Schutte told the board he was glad to share the Marshalltown City Council supported the project. He did say the city requested two adjustments be made to the 28E agreement.

“One of those adjustments was for — we had talked all along about the city’s maximum commitment being $684,000 toward Phase 2 of this project and so that was confirmed,” Schutte said. “Basically the city would not be held accountable for any change orders or construction overruns. That was really the primary difference.”

On Monday the Marshalltown City Council approved a limited partnership with the Marshalltown Community School District.

“Change orders are something we have no way to quantify at this point,” said city administrator Jessica Kinser. “Though it was believed there would not be anything too significant, but you never know.”

The city received five emails in favor of the city partnering with the school district.

City council member Gary Thompson proposed an amendment to cap the city’s involvement at $684,000, which would not cover change orders for the project. The amendment passed.

The council approved the amended measure unanimously with the council voting to not to assist with the change orders.

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Contact Thomas Nelson at tnelson@timesrepublican.com.