SILOAM SPRINGS -- School Board members approved two bids for improvement to the bus garage parking lot and the intermediate school parking lot during a meeting in Superintendent Ken Ramey's office Thursday.
Assistant Superintendent Jody Wiggins recommended the board choose Diamond C Construction of Gentry, the low bidder on both instances, for the two projects.
Diamond C bid $487,000 for the bus garage parking lot expansion, and $223,600 for the Intermediate School parking lot improvements.
Wiggins said the two projects cost more than expected because core samples showed the base layers were insufficient both parking lots and would have to be replaced. The company will also have to excavate 2 feet in the areas the bus parking lot is expanding and fill it with a base layer. Once the base is complete, the lot will get a 1.5-inch concrete overlay, with a 3-inch overlay in high traffic areas.
The two projects are scheduled to be complete by Aug. 5, architect Mike Spaeth said. He called the deadline, which allows for some inclement weather, "tight, but doable." Overtime work is figured into the budget, which also drives up the cost, Wiggins said.
The school is waiting on approval for the projects from the City Board, which will next meet June 7. School buses will be moved and parked in the fenced lot of a trucking company during construction.
In other business, the board approved a $145,897 bid from Alliant Insurance Services for the district's building and content insurance.
Terri Raskiewicz, chief financial officer for the district, said it gets harder and harder to find a company insuring buildings and content for large institutions because of the risk. She recommended Alliant Insurance Services because of its high rating.
NW News on 05/31/2016