Clear River Construction was awarded a $2.38 million bid by the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen Wednesday to begin clearing, grubbing and grading work at the 200-acre site of what’s to be a new sports complex off Fisher Ferry Road.

The board opened bids from 15 companies on Nov. 25, with Jackson-based Clear River’s bid being the lowest. Jeff Green, an engineer with Memphis-based Pickering Firm — which was contracted to administer the bid process — said the contract would be signed and a pre-construction meeting would take place with Clear River in the coming weeks. While he could not provide a start date for the ground work, Mayor Laurence Leyens speculated work would begin in mid- to late January.

“The money has been in the bank for two years now, and I want to get started on it,” said Leyens.

The city bought the 200 acres of undeveloped land off Fisher Ferry Road several years ago for $325,000, and earmarked $4 million of a $16.9 million bond issue for the first phase of development in August 2007.

The $4 million will ensure at least four softball fields will be completed at the facility, said South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, former parks and recreation head and proponent of the development.

Since the purchase, the city has entertained the idea of contracting out management of recreation programs. He added the city plans to meet with its contractor, the Aquila Group on Jan. 6, to see what the group is interested in pursuing. While she would not provide specifics on development plans, Aquila spokesman Kristi Pantin said Aquila Group is still interested in investing in the sports complex and operating it as a business.

“We’re thrilled that it’s moving forward and whatever developments we end up with are going to be very good for Vicksburg,” Pantin said.

In an initial announcement 18 months ago, Aquila announced plans to create a sportsplex costing up to $40 million at the existing Halls Ferry Park. In June 2007, city officials paid $250,000 to Jacksonville Beach, Fla.-based USA Partners Sports Alliance to have a feasibility study done. The payment was supposed to be refundable if USAPSA did not contract with the city or raise $2.5 million for the project, which it has yet to do.

The Halls Ferry site was ruled out because some of it was located on a former landfill, which the state Department of Environmental Quality said must not be disturbed. At that time, the Fisher Ferry site was singled out by the city as the preferred location.

City Attorney Nancy Thomas said via an e-mail this morning she spoke with J.D. Daniel, manager of USAPSA about the $250,000 it paid the company.

“He assured me that he would refund the money and will get a letter to me to that effect by Monday,” said Thomas in the e-mail to Leyens, Beauman and North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board also authorized a contract with Pickering Firm in the amount of $124,820 for the construction of the administration services phase of the sports complex development.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.