LAWTON – The Lawton Youth Sports Trust Authority has hired a contractor to evaluate the soil at the site of the city’s proposed indoor youth sports complex.
The authority voted unanimously March 13 to approve a contract with the Oklahoma City-based firm Standard Engineering and Field Services, which will conduct a geotechnical study of the 40-acre tract of land on East Gore Boulevard, near MacArthur High School.
As part of the study, Standard will perform the following tasks:
• Evaluate soil and/ or rock strength conditions at the site.
• Check soil plasticity characteristics, which refers to the soil’s ability to handle strain without cracking or fracturing.
•Recommend subgrade preparation, foundation types and pavement sections for the sports complex.
The authority sought bids for the soil evaluation, and Standard had the lowest-priced bid that still met the board’s requirements, said Chairman Brian Henry.
“We did get one back that was a $16,000 bid, but their plan was to go half as deep on the boring,” he said. “So we dismissed that as a non-qualified bid.”
Henry said Standard will charge $33,654 for its work, which is included in the budget for the sports complex.