Anne Arundel high school turf installation put on hold

Anne Arundel County (Map, News) - Artificial turf installation at three Anne Arundel high schools has hit a snafu.

The County Council voted this week to perform a research audit to examine a contract worth around $10 million to install turf at Severna Park, Meade and Glen Burnie high schools.

Until County Auditor Theresa Sutherland returns with her report, which is expected in August, the council is suspending upcoming funds for these fields.

The three fields were slated to begin later this winter after the football season, officials said.

The county held a competitive-bid process in February and awarded the contract fairly, county officials said. Davidsonville-based Sunny Acres Landscaping Inc. beat out 10 other companies in a sealed-bid contest, officials said.

County Executive John R. Leopold, a Republican, said he welcomes the investigation.

Several council members declined to comment about the investigation or the allegations, saying they did not want to hinder Sutherland’s investigation.

Turf installation already has started at some of the first schools at North County, Arundel and Annapolis high schools, said Alex Szachnowicz, the school system’s chief facility officer. And county officials are nearing approval of the subcontractor for the first three fields, Callahan added.

The county approves each subcontractor by investigating their references and background, officials said.

Sunny Acres had performed landscaping at Marley Middle School a few years ago, but Szachnowicz doesn’t recall any other work performed by the company for the school system.

Sunny Acres Vice President Les Belcher III’s wife, Debbie, is a member of the Republican Central Committee. Belcher did not return calls for comment.

The school system now has no power over the situation and will have to wait along with everyone else, Szachnowicz said.

jkowalkowski@baltimoreexaminer.com

jflanagan@baltimoreexaminer.com

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