Creek Valley BOE hears estimates for track renovation

The topic of track renovations dominated the Creek Valley Board of Education (BOE) meeting on Thursday night.

During the March BOE meeting, estimates of around $100,000 to repair/replace the top coat or around $375,000 to do a more extensive repair by repairing the old base using a new system were discussed.

There is currently only one contractor’s estimate that the BOE members are dealing with. An advertisement was put in region newspapers for bids. Only two contractors replied. One of those contractors went bankrupt, so the estimate from the other one is all that is remains.

The board members were still reluctant to vote for either. The question was raised about the old base; if the old base falls through and has to be torn up, the repair cost could go from $400,000 to $800,000. The funds in the account for this project are only enough to cover the lower estimate.

Board members were concerned about the funding for the additional $400,000 if the work was started and the contractor decided that the job would require the entire base to be torn up and replaced.

Superintendent Ted Classen put the options on the table for the board members to vote on. He said they needed to make a decision during the meeting. Classen sensed the board member’s uncertainty about the estimates and the process of repairing or replacing the track. Classen told the members that they could vote no on the current estimates and that he could contact other track repair companies to get more estimates. Classen stressed the point of making a decision on one or the other that night.

Questions were raised about the new system that the contractor uses, which involves recycled tires. The contractor has completed only one track using the system recently. The board members questioned the durability of the new system since it hasn’t been in use for long.

Classen told the members that repairs could be done on the existing track for around $25,000 that will last another year. Concerns were expressed that if this is done, the top might not be smooth enough.a

Classen reminded the board members that roofs also need replacing and the gym floor has to be redone. If everything is spent on the track, there will be no money left in the fund. The gym floor estimate for total replacement is around $125,000. All of the roof replacements will run around $187,000.

The motion was made to approve the $374,971 for the replacement of the track using the new system; it wasn’t approved. Two voted in favor of and four voted no to the current estimate.

Classen will expand the search for track repair companies in other regions and he will contact them to get more estimates.

The Creek Valley BOE meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month unless there is inclement weather. The public is welcome to attend.