Commission votes to solicit bids for four more pickleball courts after councilman cites heavy demand

The Leitchfield Tourism and Convention Commission voted to solicit formal bids for four additional pickleball courts after Councilman Denny said community demand has outpaced existing facilities and tournament requests have already been received.

Councilman Denny told the commission that the courts have been ‘‘busy all the time’’ when weather permits and that organizers hope to add four more courts so the site can host tournaments. He said site work will require moving a playground and additional concrete, which will increase costs beyond the earlier phase.

Commissioners discussed cost drivers and timing for any commission contribution. Staff and presenters said the initial court project came in under budget and that fixtures for lighting were donated, which reduced costs on the first phase. Denny also apologized for a separate city council action that rescinded a previously discussed $1,500 civic improvement grant, saying the council voted 4–2 to decline it.

Because the projected total for the next phase exceeds the $40,000 threshold for informal procurement, the commission approved a motion to solicit formal bids. Commissioner Anthony Joyce moved to authorize the solicitation of bids; the commission recorded the vote as "all in favor." The motion did not include a recorded roll-call tally in the minutes.

Members discussed budget timing: staff noted the city budget calendar and said firm numbers from contractor Scotty will be needed to determine whether any commission contribution would be included in the current fiscal year or next year’s budget. Elsa and other staff said they will seek hard cost estimates and staff recommended adding a funding cap in line with the commission’s budget process rather than committing a specific dollar amount immediately.

Next steps: staff will request formal bids and report back with costs and a recommended funding approach for the commission and, if necessary, inclusion in the upcoming budget. The commission’s next meeting was scheduled for April, and staff said they will try to have preliminary figures before the council’s June 1 budget submittal deadline.