School Directors chose a Pittsburgh Firm to Install Artificial Turf at Offutt Field

Tribune-Review
Written by Chris Forman
March 30, 2005

Greensburg Salem school directors chose a Pittsburgh firm Tuesday night to install artificial turf at Offutt Field, the district's football stadium in downtown Greensburg.

Directors voted 5-3 to award a $531,600 contract to Palumbo Landscaping Inc. The bid is contingent upon the receipt of bonds and governmental agency approvals related to a renovation project at the field, which the district has used since the early 1960s.

District officials anticipate the renovations at Offutt Field will cost between $2.1 million and $2.4 million. Besides the installation of artificial turf, the plan calls for the construction of a 8,500-square-foot field house and a new press box and bleachers.

Seton Hill University will pay 50 percent of the cost of the turf because its football team is expected to play there this fall.

The board received nine bids for the turf portion of the project, but only six met the specifications.

Board President Jack L. Savini, Vice President Trudy Ivory, and directors Barbara Hinkle, Ronald W. Mellinger Jr. and Perry Miller approved the Palumbo contract. Directors Natale Pantalone, Richard Guerrieri and Lee Kunkle voted against the bid.

Director Stephen D. Thomas was absent from the special meeting.

Pantalone said he did not approve of a section of Palumbo's bid to spend $39,500 on lettering in the end zones and a high school logo on the field.

"No, I'm not in favor of paying to put lettering on the field," Pantalone answered during the roll call vote.

Directors unanimously passed another contract related to the project. Westmoreland Electrical Inc., of Tarrs, East Huntington Township, will receive $91,700 for electrical work for the field house, scoreboard, press box and lighting at Offutt Field, Superintendent Thomas Yarabinetz said.

The district will use $6 million in bonds to pay for the Offutt Field renovations and structural improvements to four schools. Greensburg Salem will have to allocate revenue from about 1.25 mills of real estate tax each year to pay the debt service during the 17-year life of the bond issue.

By the time the debt is repaid, the district will have paid an estimated $10.5 million, according to bond underwriter Parker-Hunter.