NKSD awards bid for recreation complex

A portion of the North Kitsap School District school board’s year-long involvement in the development of the North Kitsap Regional Events Complex Master Plan came to a close Thursday evening, as Fischer General Contracting Inc. was awarded the contractor bid.

With a unanimous vote, board members approved the base bid of $1,739,764, which is contingent upon approval from the project’s remaining partners: NKSD, Kitsap County, the city of Poulsbo and the Public Facilities District PFD).

As a first step toward making all the hard work of the four-way partnership a reality, PFD Executive Director Mike Walton presented the board a check for approximatel $1,450,000 at the meeting.

“It is my distinct pleasure to represent the Kitsap Public Facilities District,” Walton said as he held a literally oversized check in his hands. “This is the original commitment. This is the check I wanted to present to NKSD for phase I of the Regional Events Center.”

Applause from the audience and the board members was the answer to Walton’s presentation. Then cameras came out to capture the accomplishment film.

Phase I of the REC Master Plan will be to resurface the North Kitsap High School stadium and Strawberry Field #8 with synthetic turf. Phase I also includes other improvements to the stadium and installing lighting for Strawberry Field #8.

With smiles across every board members’ face, they let their appreciation be known.

“Thank you so much,” said Board President Melanie Mohler. “We greatly appreciate the partnership we formed with the Public Facilities District, the county and the city. Thank you so much.”

The REC will be a complex of multi-event buildings, sports fields, multi-purpose trails and other facilities. The complex and the improvements of existing structures and fields will allow for extended use and the district’s ability to host major soccer and lacrosse tournaments.

NKSD will manage the construction project. Construction will begin this summer and will be complete before the start of the 2008 football season.

In addition to the PFD’s funding, Kitsap County and the City of Poulsbo both contributed $300,000 while NKSD contributed $150,000 and the property on which the REC is being developed.

Fischer General Contracting Inc. is a Poulsbo-based company.

“The other bidders were not in the same ball park,” said NKSD Capital Programs Manager Dennis Burch. “And they’re (Fischer) local so we know they’ll be there paying attention on the field.”

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