<p>Greenland Moves Ahead With Football Field Improvement</p>

Greenland Moves Ahead With Football Field Improvement

School Board Approves Dirt Work Contract Thursday

By Rose Ann Pearce

[email protected] • @NWARoseAnnP

GREENLAND -- Plans to renovate the football facilities took a step forward Thursday when the School Board approved a contract for the preliminary dirt work.

A contract was awarded to the Les Rogers Company for the project, which will also include some drainage improvement. The Rogers Company submitted the lowest of three bids for $51,835. The work will start in the next few weeks.

Architect Jim Key said that figure might be reduced with a change in the scope of the work approved late Thursday by the project engineer. The original estimate was $49,500 and the reduced amount won't be known until the cost is refigured, Key said.

Dan Marzoni, a board member, cast the dissenting vote to approve the contract.

"I've been opposed to spending that much money on the football field since it came up," Marzoni said.

Superintendent Charles Cudney said the total project will cost about $1 million. The work includes building a 6,000-square-foot concession stand, restrooms and press box. Bleacher improvement and a all-weather surface sprint track round out the project. The track will be five lanes and and 120 meters in length.

The project was proposed about two years ago by Athletic Director Lee Larkan. At the time, the plan was to seek private donations for the renovation.

Since, however, the board approved restructuring bonds that netted about $700,000 for the project, Cudney said. The balance of the cost is from savings from other construction projects, he said.

The goal is to complete the renovation by the start of the football season in August.

Cudney said the concession stand and press box have been razed to make way for construction. Demolition of the home bleachers will be done by volunteers once the weather improves, he added.

The district will act as its own contractor to approve the work in stages. Cudney said the district save an undetermined amount of money using this form of construction because it won't have to pay general contractor fees.

Marzoni has voted against the project since its inception because the district was just coming out of fiscal distress at the time it was proposed.

In other business, Cudney said he plans to meet early next week with the Personal Policies Committee to discuss options for making up 10 snow days missed this school year. He added he will bring a proposal from that committee to the board at its meeting Thursday.

NW News on 01/10/2014

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