UHS' McAtee Makes Successful 'Play' For Tennis Court Project

Ulysses High School Athletic Director Travis McAtee has been making the rounds of government entities of late, talking to them about a proposed project for the tennis courts at Ulysses High School.

The courts are in such a state of disrepair, they have been deemed "unsafe for competition". Soon, however, it is looking good that they will soon receive a long over do makeover.

"The school board is asking to split the cost of the tennis court resurfacing and all of the work that goes in to that of course by thirds  - that includes the district, the city and the county," McAtee explained at the Ulysses City Council meeting August 12. "The rec was very receptive, but they are just not in a budget place to be able to help out. They are sorry they can't. They would love to contribute in other ways. The request from the school board was for me to ask the city and the county, with the district, to take the costs of the tennis courts and split it three ways."

McAtee had previously spoken to the Ulysses City Council and Grant County Commissioners in July, but has been making another round of speaking in front of the two boards this month.

McAtee spoke to the council last week during the visitor's comments of the meeting.  He told the council he had met with Grant County Commissioners and had received "good feedback" from them. He then took information he had gleaned from both entities back to the school board during their evening meeting August 12, to learn how the school board wanted him to proceed. The original projected cost for making improvements to the courts was $80,000. That figure has changed.

"Today (August 13) I was able to get the net systems ordered," McAtee said. "We got an even better deal on our net systems. I think our quote on those systems was $2,600, and we were able to get those just over $2,000 - getting new post systems and four new nets. The (school) board was good with me going ahead and getting at least the new net systems in, because (the ones we have now) are pretty bad."

McAtee explained that he had also reached out to a company about doing the other work on the courts.

"I have also reached out to the company that did our track last fall," he said. "They weren't in a position to get in and get it done before the season starts on Monday, but could get in and do it like we did with the track - get right on it right after the season is over. (The project) could possibly go all the way to the summer, but if we can get with them right away, they thought they could get to it that middle part of October, when tennis is over - get it done and ready for spring season."

City Councilman Mark Diaz questioned McAtee about a local family who had expressed interest in the project.

"You had gotten with the Plumlees in 2023 and 2024 and the Plumlees had also asked about donating (to the project)," he said.

McAtee said the Plumlee family had never mentioned financial backing.

"They never said anything about money," he said. "They just wanted to have the tennis courts named Tim Plumlee Tennis Courts. I did get back with Greg Plumlee after all my meetings and at this point he has opted out of (any involvement in the project). I don't know if it's monetary (the reason they opted out.) I did ask the question, 'is the family willing to contribute in order to have it named after your dad?' His short answer was, 'not at this time.' The Plumlees will not be a part of the project at this time."

Diaz said he does not have a problem with supporting the project.

"I don't have a problem with donating to this if we go ahead fix the court  and also make the pickle ball courts, but I do not want the name of Plumlee put on it unless they put the full amount (to pay for it), because this is tax payer money. If we are going to spend that kind of money it ought to be left just between the three of us (school board, city and county)."

City Councilman Caleb Woods said he feels it's up to the school.

"It is the school district's property," he said. "It is on them to do what they want and how they want to name it."

Diaz reiterated they are talking about taxpayer money.

"If they (the school) are going to do that then the school ought to put up the full amount, because this is tax payer money and I don't think we need to name it after somebody," Diaz said. "If we are going to start naming things after people, then before you know it we will have this whole town named after individuals. I think we are all part of this community and I don't think the city should be using tax payer money to have it named after somebody else."

When asked what the total cost for the project would be, at this point, McAtee responded, $79,700, with the net systems (already purchased)" taken off from that price.

"Again, the net systems will be taken off of that, so we are going to be right in the neighborhood of $75,000," McAtee said. "Just taking the $2,600 off the bid, I think it leaves us at $25,700 three ways. The one caveat I need to say - when we get those bids, they are good for 60 days. We are well beyond that now. Do I see that number changing a whole lot? No, in fact I talked to the  company - my gut feeling is they will still honor that bid. In the end, it might still have to be rebid just because some time has passed. I still think we will be in that neighborhood of $25,000 to $26,000  per entity."

Diaz questioned if the council could vote on the project if they don't have an exact amount as yet. To which Woods responded, "We could put a dollar amount up to this amount to approve to do it, and if it goes above that we can go back to it."

Councilman Ken Warner pointed out the project was not an agenda item for their meeting and said they need to get it on their next agenda. The City's next meeting will be August 26.

City Administrator Luke Grimes, said it may come in a little less for each entity.

"I have tentative approval from (a grant) to get $5,000 towards it," Grimes said. "So that will help everybody's total."

McAtee advised the council he would be attending the county's meeting August 19.

"I will go to county next Tuesday (August 19) to see where they are at," he said. "I can go to the company and get a bid after that, so I can go to the entities with an exact amount."