A rejected high bid on a concession stand/announcer’s stand has put the David Merchant Memorial Park without scoreboards, a PA system and only two bathrooms to accommodate the parents, grandparents and others who watch baseball and softball at the Ellisville complex.

The Jones County Board of Supervisors budgeted $200,000 for the project, but the only bid that was received came in at $140,000 over budget. Supervisors rejected the bid, and plan to re-bid the project in segments, probably sometime before the end of May.

“I believe it will be built in 70-80 days,” said Board of Supervisors president Andy Dial, also Beat Four supervisor where the park is located. “Bidding it out in segments could make for about half a dozen different bids. Basically, everybody will come in and do their thing as they go. The money is obligated; we’re going to build a new building. We wouldn’t have taken the other building down if we weren’t planning to build a new one.”

Shane Ladner, president of the Merchant Park Dizzy Dean Baseball Board of Directors, said there are approximately 400 participants in baseball and another 300 or more who play softball. Teams play on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights, and sometimes on Saturdays. Ladner said there is a men’s bathroom and a women’s bathroom to accommodate the spectators. The building which was torn down in anticipation of construction of the new building contained bathrooms, an announcing and scorekeeping booth and a concession stand. Concessions are sold this season out of a portable building.

May 17 is the day of last regular season games, followed by tournaments and all-star games. Ladner said baseball and softball will end at the park at some point in June.

“We’re working out of a portable building for a concession stand, and there is not a room for coaches’ meetings and board meetings,” he said. “I do think we’re being neglected a little.”