Addie McCluskey
Elmore Autauga News
Prattville City Council approved a resolution on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, during their regular meeting, authorizing the release of funds for parks and recreation to CAMCO Properties, LLC at a cost not to exceed $99,500.
The project will add additional restrooms and a concession stand at Whetstone Sports Complex, located at 1099 Autauga County 4 East.
District 7 Councilor Thea Langley raised concerns about the project’s cost, noting that Alabama’s state bid law does not require construction bids for projects under $100,000. She pointed out that some similarly sized cities, including Fairhope, have adopted lower internal bid thresholds of $50,000.
“Lowering our threshold for construction bids provides for transparency,” said Langley. “It provides for more competitiveness with construction companies, and I think that for us being more responsible to our taxpayers for the monies that we spend, $500 is just not that much off of that bid.”
Langley’s concerns drew no response from her colleagues before the resolution was brought to a vote, passing unanimously.
Mayor Bill Gillespie, however, addressed the concern in his closing comments.
Gillespie said that, while competitive bidding has its place, it can also involve additional costs, including advertising expenses, staff time, legal review, and potential project delays. He added that any changes to the city’s bidding procedures should involve department heads, who oversee the execution of projects.
“A layman told me a long time ago: sometimes, the lowest bid does not always mean lowest cost once you consider time,” said Gillespie. “It does not also mean that you’re going to get the best product.”
For more information about Tuesday’s council meeting, a full recording is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch.
