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WEIRTON -- The Hancock County Board of Education continues to move forward with the development of new baseball and softball fields at Weir High School, agreeing to seek proposals for some elements of the projects as part of a special meeting held Thursday at the high school.
As part of the meeting, which included school board members, representatives of the softball and baseball coaching staffs, and engineers for the project, the board authorized requests for bids on multiple options for seating for the new baseball field, currently under construction in an area next to Jimmy Carey Stadium previously occupied by the school's softball field.
Much of the meeting focused on the potential setup of the seats, with a proposal offered by Jim Sauer of J.T. Sauer and Associates showing a combined grandstand, with bucket seating, and press box.
"It's basically a seating system and press box in one," Sauer said, noting an estimate of more than $350,000.
Finance Director Joe Campinelli, though, pointed out the budgeted plans for the field had been calling for a more simplistic approach, and there had previously been discussions only for portable, bleacher-style seating. Previous discussions also had recommended installing a window in the back of the press box at the football field for use at baseball games, Campinelli said.
Superintendent Dan Enich admitted he had requested the proposals for the higher-end designs, which also included additional fencing and an entry plaza into the field which would help to provide a connective flow with the football field, but also differentiate the two facilities.
Sauer said it would be good to look at different options, explaining while the bucket seats would be nicer, the bleachers would potentially be one-third of the cost and provide more seating.
"The frame system is the same no matter what," he said.
The board also approved a bid from Griffin Sports Equipment for a scoreboard for the baseball field, which Director of Facilities and Maintenance Mark Dziatkowicz explained was based on the scoreboard in place at Edwin J. Bowman Field.
Other amenities for the field, such as a windscreen and the location and design of the bullpen and batting cages were discussed, but not finalized.
The board also discussed a few final aspects of the new softball field, which has been built on what had been the school's north parking area and already was used for some games in the spring. Dziatkowicz said he plans to have his crews focus on much of those items within the coming weeks, in order to have the field ready for the fall ball season at the end of the month.