New astro-turf for the Huskie Stadium was approved by the Board of Regents Wednesday.

The board met over the phone because the small number of items up for approval this month did not warrant a full-scale meeting, said NIU Provost Kendall Baker.

Baker took the place of NIU President John La Tourette, who is vacationing in Australia. Only the chancellor, Regency Executive Committee and the three university presidents took part in the meeting.

Nine regents were absent.

The board governs NIU, Illinois State University at Normal and Sangamon State University at Springfield.

Astroturf Industries Inc. will install the turf at NIU and ISU. Bids for the work at both schools were done together to save money.

Regency Chancellor Roderick Groves said NIU and ISU administrators “burned the midnight oil” in order to carefully analyze all four bids so the best offer could be approved at the teleconference.

Bids ranged between $450,000 and $675,000 for the Huskie Stadium. NIU’s total cost will be about $665,000.

Only the two highest bids were considered because the two lower estimates did not meet NIU’s specifications, said Don Widdick, NIU Materials Management director.

Because NIU has already committed to several important events at the stadium this summer, Baker said NIU wants to install the turf as soon as possible.

“By contracting the ISU and NIU fields together, the board saved nearly $120,000,” Groves said.

Widick said the $665,000 includes the installation of new turf and padding, asphalt repair and an eight-year maintenance contract.

Groves said the bids received were very competitive and reflected a definite advantage to both universities if the fields are done together.

“I hope we can work together and pave the way for other cost-effective joint ventures,” Groves said.