Buttoning things up

One phase of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School facilities project is wrapping up and others are progressing well. That's the word school board members received during their meeting on Monday.

John Hight, of Beck Engineering, reported that the parking lot improvements phase of the overall project is nearing completion. A review of the list of any items not completed or not completed correctly is scheduled for this week.

"We're buttoning up things around the parking lot," he noted.

Upgrades of the baseball and softball fields are also progressing. Work that is underway includes replacing backstops, constructing dugouts and applying material on the infields and warning track.

"We're making good progress on the ball field improvements. Work on the baseball field is progressing nicely," Hight said.

New lighting has been installed in the parking lots. An issue with the lights in the north lot occurred recently. It was unclear what caused the problem, which has been addressed.

The board approved a pay application from Graves Construction in the amount of $592,387. The amount covers work completed from the previous application to Sept. 1.

• Cement pads near concession stands

The Athletic Booster Club proposed the addition of concrete areas near the football and ballfield concession buildings. The work would be included in the facilities project and would be funded by the Booster Club.

Board President Scott Vollink, who is a member of the board's buildings and grounds committee, said the concrete pads measuring 10'x30' would be placed on either side of the concession buildings. The pads will provide space for picnic tables.

According to Superintendent Patrick Carlin, Beck Engineering will prepare a change order setting out the scope of work and estimated cost for the concrete installation.

"They're estimating $11,200, give or take a couple hundred dollars. That's what we're being told right now," Carlin noted.

• Tractor lease, other business

Also on the agenda was approval of another lease agreement with C & B Operations, of Spencer for a John Deere compact utility tractor. The rental rate is $1,000 for a term of one year, not to exceed 100 hours.

Carlin said that even with heavier use last winter, the amount of hours on the tractor did not exceed the limit set out in the lease agreement.

The board also approved renewal of the agreement with Danette Block for the gymnastics program; granted permission for the cross country team to take a field trip to Harrisburg, S.D.; and named Board Member Kyle McCarter as the delegate assembly representative at the Iowa Association of School Boards annual convention in November.