Wednesday, September 18, 2024
At its meeting Monday, Feb. 7, the school board unanimously voted to spend no more than $320,000 on a track redevelopment project.
Point of Beginning of Stevens Point will do the project, hoping to begin shortly after this school year ends and believing construction will take at most a month and a half.
"You've got to do it right the first time," board member Dan Kohl said shortly before the board's vote.
For several years, the district has had $300,000 set aside for a track project. The blacktop on the track is 25 years old, and its condition and how much to spend on a project have been the subject of numerous discussions during the past several months.
Scott Groholski is the president of Point of Beginning - one of three companies the board sought estimates from for the project.
He presented a base bid for the project and also an alternate bid that included such items as a 30-foot-wide asphalt walkway from the parking lot to the track, signage and landscaping. Point of Beginning's base bid was $285,000, with the estimate for the other items being approximately $36,000. The company also included a 5 percent contingency, thus bringing the base bid to $298,000 and the bid for the alternates to about $37,700 for a total project cost of about $336,000.
The project will include a rubber surface on the track, a long and triple jump area, and fencing.
Discussion centered on whether to do just the portion of the project that would bring the cost in under the $300,000 set aside or whether to spend about $320,000 so that the entrance to the track could also be redeveloped.
Groholski told the board that the whole project would cost about $320,000 if the 5 percent contingency is not needed.
Board members agreed it makes sense to do the entire project instead of doing it piecemeal. In addition, there will be cost savings by doing all the necessary asphalt work at once.
It was also pointed out that there will be fundraising to help with project costs, and Groholski told the board that the landscaping could be done in phases.
"One of the district goals was positive goals. I think doing it right will make a statement," said Matt Wilbert, who is the school district's middle and high school principal.
Board member Chuck Burgess agreed.
Groholski said Point of Beginning is willing to help with fundraising and will also be among the donors.
"We are willing to donate an actual check, not services," he said. "Point of Beginning will throw in $1,000."
The company has already reached out to local businesses to be part of its team for the project.
The team will include Faulks Bros. Construction Inc. and Tim Cullen, of TLC Sign.
Groholski described Point of Beginning as a civil engineering firm. "One of our areas of expertise is athletics," he said. "Individually, we feel very confident we can do your project."
