By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LUTCHER – Football players in St. James Parish may soon be feeling artificial turf beneath their cleats if Lutcher High School head football coach and Athletic Director Tim Detillier has anything to say about it.

“If we’re ever going to do it, now’s the time to do it,” he told the district’s Building Committee Friday.

He explained that with the board seeking a location for St. James High School and pressing drainage issues to address at the stadium at his own school, now would be an optimal time to seek bids to install artificial turf at the stadiums of the two schools.

He said putting in a new natural grass field at either location will cost at least $200,000, so the school board should consider making the investment before spending the money on a natural grass field.

Detillier explained the Lutcher drainage problem, saying that even just a normal rain shower causes the water on the field to go all the way up to the hash marks.

“If we don’t get the turf, we still have to address the problem,” he said.

Detillier said the drainage problem also causes a problem with the upkeep of the field because it is usually mowed 2-3 times per week, but rain makes it impossible to do so.

Detillier explained he was only offering what he thought was the best option to the committee.

“If we’re not going to do it, that’s fine, too, but we have to move forward,” he said.

According to Detillier, some of the advantages of artificial turf include less upkeep and greater safety for student athletes. He cited specifically a 44 percent reduction in concussions on the artificial surface.

“The synthetic turf seems to be winning no matter who tests it, how they test it or what they are testing it for,” said Detillier.

He also said synthetic turf proves to be four times less expensive than grass over time.

“I think it would be money well spent,” he said, adding that an artificial surface would increase the field’s usability, allowing events such as graduations to be held on the field, even if there is rain the previous evening.

He also said artificial turf field generally come with a warranty of at least eight years.

“That’s if you do the preventative maintenance,” said board member George Nassar. “From what I understand, the preventative maintenance is fairly expensive.”

Nassar suggested that if the district plans to go ahead with the artificial turf plans, the preventative maintenance cost should be included in the overall price so future boards do not allow the fields to fall into disrepair.

“We need to have everything detailed because I don’t want to get stuck,” said Nassar.

Although the committee agreed to contact architect Perry Segura to begin looking at the design process involved in installing the artificial turf and to have a cost analysis done, the school board is expected to discuss the matter further at its retreat this week. Even before this discussion takes place, however, cost seems to be the major factor on everyone’s minds.

Said Nassar, “It’s going to be over a million dollars by the time you do everything you need to do.”