L’ANSE – A dispute between the L’Anse Area Schools and a contractor over the quality of fencing installed around the school’s new football field appears headed for an amicable resolution.

“We do have a tentative settlement agreement, which will be presented to the board at our January meeting,” LAS Superintendent Susan Tollefson said Wednesday.

Tollefson said the district had specified commercial grade fencing when the project was put out for bids, but L’Anse contracting company Northern Landscapes used what the district saw as a lower grade of fencing and posts when it installed the fence prior to last football season.

The bid request did not define exactly what constituted commercial grade, Tollefson said.

“There was maybe a misunderstanding between the district and contractor on what the definition was,” she said.

Tollefson said she couldn’t put a dollar figure on the price difference between the installed fencing and what was expected, but noted Northern Landscapes was the low bidder on the project.

She would not comment on the specifics of the deal until she’d had the chance to bring it before the school board, which meets Jan. 25, she said, but the proposal calls for both sides sharing the expense of replacing the fencing with higher-quality materials.

Legal action was considered, but Tollefson said both sides preferred a compromise.

“He wants a resolution, too, and we’re moving forward in a positive manner,” she said. “It’s the best avenue for the district not to expend legal expenses.”

Northern Landscapes, which lists Mark Krueger as its primary contact on its website, did not return a call seeking comment. Tollefson said the company has been willing to discuss the district’s concerns throughout the dispute, and it had donated free labor to other parts of the football field project.