Austin Public Schools is officially ready to start work this spring on $5.2 million dome and artificial turf project at Wescott Athletic Complex, at least the initial part of the project.

At Monday’s meeting, the school board unanimously approved G.L. Contracting Inc.’s base bid of $2,315,850 for the proposed site work at Wescott Field in preparation for artificial turf and a seasonal dome, a project being completed in partnership with Vision 2020.

The approval for the Wescott Athletic Complex construction bids, however, was tabled until the April 13 meeting, after the district only received one bid. The district received five bids for the site work.

G.L. Contracting will do excavation work on the existing soils at the Wescott fields, along with appropriate drainage and sub grade preparation for the turf and dome.

Other companies who bid include Peterson Companies Inc., JD Driver LTD, Duininck Inc. and Frattalone Companies Inc.

Austin Public Schools has not worked with G.L. Contracting before but district officials received several opinions on the company, all good. Finance and Operations Director Mark Stotts said the requirement is the company has accomplished at least three similar projects successfully, which they have. Previous work done by the company includes site prep for the turf field at Triton Schools, which gave the district a positive reference.

Austin Public Schools will officially start work this spring to install artificial turf on two fields at the Wescott Athletic Complex and to install the seasonal dome.

The school board voted 5-1 to move forward on the $5.2 million project — which will put two artificial turf fields and a seasonal dome over Art Hass Field — during its regular meeting on Feb. 10.

The project was announced in November 2014 and drew much attention — both positive and negative — from the community. The dome is part of a larger community recreation center project intended to meet community needs.

The domed field can be used for soccer, softball and baseball practices along with a few softball and soccer games. Austin Public Schools will contribute $2.5 million from school reserves, and the Hormel Foundation donated $2.7 million, which was approved at the foundation’s Jan. 27 meeting.

The dome will be open to the community, and to adult and recreational athletic leagues.

The district has discussed putting artificial turf on the fields for several years, since some sports now require artificial turf for games. The artificial turf on both fields will give Austin an opportunity to host section tournament events, as the Minnesota State High School League now requires all football section title games to be played on turf.