After controversy, Apopka rebids its splash pad project

Apopka ordered a “do-over on its splash pad bids.

The decision to re-bid followed complaints by Ryan Fitzgerald, owner of a construction company who submitted the low bid by $162,000 but lost in the first go-round.

City Council members chose another Apopka-based company, Accu-Tech, favoring its design over his.

Fitzgerald, who was outraged by the selection, said he chose less-expensive design features to stay closer to the city’s budget target.

“I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from people in town who want to be sure our procurement process is scrupulous and can withstand all scrutiny,” Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer said after Wednesday night’s council meeting. “Clearly people had some reservations about that.”

He discussed those concerns with City Administrator Glenn Irby and City Attorney Cliff Shepard.

“We thought it would be best to take a step back and run the process again,” the mayor said.

City Council members unanimously agreed.

The re-bid will be the third time Apopka has tried to find a contractor for a splash pad, a play area primarily for kids that features refreshing sprinklers, sprays and soakers.

No firms bid on the project the first time and just two, Fitzgerald’s company and Accu-Tech, submitted proposals on the second round.

After years of discussion, the council set aside $750,000 last year for a project that included not only a splash pad but also new bathrooms at Kit Land Nelson Park. The city originally hoped Apopka kids would be splashing in the water playground this summer but re-bidding will further delay the project by at least 30 days, likely longer.

Kilsheimer said the city will seek new proposals “as soon as humanly possible.”

Splash pads are popular amenities throughout Central Florida.

Clermont, Deltona, Eustis, Lake Mary, Leesburg, St. Cloud, Sanford, Tavares, Winter Garden and Winter Springs, all of which are smaller than Apopka, Orange County’s second-largest city, boast them.

Prospective bidders were encouraged to incorporate ideas, themes and features suggested by city residents — including children — who were surveyed earlier this year.

Kids wanted water cannons and revolving buckets that dropped water on people’s heads.