TIFTON — Tift County is continuing with its improvements to the E.B. Hamilton Sports Complex.

Having wrapped up work on Phase 1A of the project, which saw renovations to the park’s roadways and parking areas, Tift County Board of Commissioners greenlit development on Phase 1B during their Sept. 9 meeting.

This division of the project will tackle improvements to the complex’s various ball fields, as well as lighting, backstops, and bleachers for said fields, sidewalk repair, and irrigation work.

Commissioners moved to award the bid for the project to Albany-based LRA Constructors at $8,041,007.

At the county’s Sept. 3 workshop, county manager Jim Carter reported that their original price for the project had instead been $8,079,064 and would have seen additional renovations to the complex, including improvements to the maintenance shop, but county staff had negotiated with the construction company and had some aspects of the project cut out to lower the price.

Funding for this project is slated to be taken out of general funds, SPLOST VI, ARPA and ARPA interest funds, and hotel and motel funds.

Engineering consultant Watkins & Associates has also been contracted to assist in the development for a cost of $358,689.65, to be funded through SPLOST VI.