Kimball, TN leaders start from scratch on park upgrades

photo This is the gravel walkway entering the Chester Blevins Sports Complex in Kimball, Tenn.

KIMBALL, Tenn. - Kimball Park has grown exponentially in recent years, but a couple of minor issues have caused city leaders to start from scratch on some planned upgrades.

Officials have focused recently on significant improvements to the Chester Blevins Sports Complex, including dugout covers with concrete floor pads and a playground, through a Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant.

Mayor Rex Pesnell said work on the dugouts has been delayed due to "a little misunderstanding" about advertising the bid specifications for that project in the local newspaper.

The Kimball Board of Mayor and Aldermen tabled that issue at its September meeting so the town can advertise the bid package properly.

Pesnell said city leaders would consider the bids for the project at the board's next meeting on Oct. 2.

The city sent out requests for proposals to certified professionals for a new playground inside the sports complex last month.

"We didn't receive any proposals," Pesnell said. "Nobody responded to that."

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City Attorney Billy Gouger said when he found out that there were no submissions on the town's request, he called some engineers in Chattanooga that he has worked with and will send the proposal packets to them this week.

"Because Kimball is seeking proposals from qualified professionals, there is an exception to the bidding requirement," he said. "The board can solicit proposals directly from them in their capacity as engineers or architects, so that's the process we'll use."

As a member of the Tennessee Public Works Association, Alderman Mark Payne said he might have connections with some certified professionals who may be willing to present a plan for the project, too.

Since Kimball already has advertised the playground project in the local newspaper and didn't get any responses, Gouger said the board is now free to go directly to those professionals "one-on-one" and solicit proposals and negotiate on the open market.

"That's the next process we need to follow," he said. "Hopefully, we'll get a response from them before next month's meeting."

Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.

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