OTHELLO — Othello High School will have six new tennis courts sometime during the next school year. Othello School Board members voted to proceed with the project at its last meeting.

Board members chose to build the six courts, rather than four, and prepare all six courts for lights, including light bases. The board eliminated an alternate for a concession stand and bathrooms, which was the subject of a long conversation.

Total estimated project cost is $629,226, but that may change due to some changes in the project’s scope. The apparent low bidder is Chervenell Construction, Kennewick.

The district already has spent about $46,000 for architectural costs and site testing, said assistant superintendent Gina Bullis. The project originally was scheduled for summer 2016, but was withdrawn and rebid.

The base bid included some site preparation for the concession stand. Derek Miller of Architects West said site prep was in the base bid because it would be very expensive to do it later. “This is the time to get all the underground in.”

Board member Stewart Hilmes said Miller was right about the cost. But if district officials and the board decide to build a concession stand later, “then it’s trying to evaluate what the best location would be” to avoid the need to disturb existing utilities.

Hilmes said he didn’t support building a concession stand, but if district officials decide to build one in the future, there are, in his opinion, better locations for it. Board member Rob Simmons said the board had decided earlier to remove all the costs of a concession stand from the base bid in case they decided not to build. Miller said the contract could be adjusted with a change order, or relocate the preparation to a different location.

Simmons asked about site prep for the fifth and sixth tennis courts. “It kind of puts us in a position where, why wouldn’t we do the last two courts because half the work is done. I just don’t like being put in that position.”

Simmons said he wasn’t against adding the two courts, but he wanted to know the actual cost.

Hilmes asked if delaying a vote to the next meeting would delay the project. Miller said there’s a completion date of Nov. 30 in the contract. Keith Dixon of Architects West said starting construction by Aug. 1 would give the contractor the best chance to get the courts finished this year.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].