Biloxi approves $418,000 request to add seats to ballpark - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -

Biloxi's city engineer says utility work near the baseball stadium is coming in almost $400,000 under budget.  And that savings, he says, can be put toward additional stadium seating. So, by a four-to-three vote, the Biloxi City Council agreed to spend more than $418,000 on four seating bays they originally stripped from the ballpark project.

Before Biloxi approved the $36 million budget to build a baseball stadium across from Beau Rivage, council members eliminated the seating bays.  That made it possible for the city to build its stadium within its budget constraints.

However, a resolution on today's city council agenda said the seats were "deemed necessary to insure that the Stadium remains in compliance with Minor League standards."  

Despite only having $90,000 of wiggle room in the ballpark's contingency fund, a majority of the city council voted for the $418,000 seating bays to be added back into the ballpark.  

On Sunday, Biloxi councilman Paul Tisdale told WLOX News, "I don't plan to vote for anything that exceeds the $36 million price tag." Tisdale, along with David Fayard and George Lawrence voted against the seating bays down each foul line.

You'll hear reaction to this decision when you watch WLOX News at 6:00.

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