The preliminary concept for Phase 1 of the Twisp sports complex, to be completed this year. The town is calling for a second round of construction bids because the one original bid exceeded the project’s budget.
By Don Nelson
The Twisp Town Council has accepted a bid by Northwest Turf Solutions Inc. of Moses Lake to build the first phase of an expanded sports complex near the Twisp Municipal Airport.
Northwest Turf’s base bid of $501,198, and construction alternatives totaling $87,696, bring the estimated final cost to $640,127 including tax. Three other bids ranged up to $720,000.
Twisp Public Works Director Denham said the Moses Lake firm has substantial experience with sports facilities.
The facility is being developed in conjunction with the Methow Valley School District, which is contributing $65,000 toward the project’s cost. The town has been working on plans for the park for several years, with funding help from the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). Earlier construction bids twice exceeded the town’s budget for the project, which is to include a soccer field and baseball/softball fields.
Total funding available for the project is $733,900, including an RCO grant of $620,000, town funds of $48,900 and the school district’s contribution of $65,000. Of that total, $91,369 has been spent on developing the site so far, leaving $642,530 for the first phase work.
The contract does not provide for sodding the baseball and soccer fields, which would have added about $95,000 to the total cost. Instead, the fields will be seeded, Denham said, which means they won’t be available this year. The contract will include dugouts and benches.
Future phases of the sports complex — for now unfunded — may include another baseball/softball field, another soccer field, a tennis court, a basketball court, a playground, a concession stand and restrooms.
In other business, the council approved a third modification of preliminary approval for the Twisp River Suites Planned Development, on the Planning Commission’s recommendation.
Preliminary approval was granted in 2012 for conversion of the motel units to condominiums by owner Joe Marver. That action included a list of conditions that had to be met before final approval by the town.
Earlier modifications to the preliminary approval expanded the planned development by adding adjacent parcels to the proposal, mainly for additional parking, at 121 W. Twisp Ave. and 223 W. Twisp Ave. The third modification is to add another adjacent parcel to the development, for parking and open space.
