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by Tom Coombe
An athletic facilities needs assessment identified over $15 million in potential or recommended improvements to Ely school athletic facilities.
But at least for now, the district only has $5.25 million in available funds to address those proposals.
A Monday night presentation by representatives of engineering firm SEH was the opening step in what figures to be a lengthy process to look at the options, explore funding sources and come up with a plan to improve the district’s athletic areas.
The process was spurred by legislative action that included an immediate $250,000 to improve Veterans Memorial Field, the baseball field on campus, as well as another $5 million for overall athletic needs.
Superintendent Anne Oelke told the school board that a steering committee will be formed to study the propsals and make recommendations to the district’s facilities.
“We did ask for a thorough assessment and an a la carte (list of options),” said superintendent Anne Oelke. “This does give us a good picture of what’s needed and how we have to be creative.”
Jason Chopp, one of three SEH representatives to present to the board, said the firm would work with the steering committee and essentially termed the list as a starting point.
“I know all of this comes down to budget and available funds,” said Chopp. “We know how much you do have.”
SEH did an extensive review of the district’s football, baseball and softball fields, the gymnasium and ice arena, as well as the weight room and old locker room inside the Memorial Building.
Various options include expenditures for the potential relocation of the existing pickleball courts and bus garage.
“We looked at them from all aspects, along with specific needs, we’re looking at the bigger picture of those facilities for the next 20 years and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance,” said Chopp.
Chopp added that “for all facilities we did a low and high range (for cost), including things the school board may not want. If you’re making decisions based on budgets going forward, there’s a whole detailed spreadsheet of line items. What I would envision with this is when we want to move forward we can hone in on individual tasks and include and exclude what this board really wants.”
SEH provided conceptual plans in a better than 30 page document reviewed by the board for the first time this week, with a total estimated cost for all improvements ranging from $15.4 to $17.2 million covering site improvements, exterior and interior improvements, HVAC upgrades and structural repairs.
The breakdown included:
• Ice Arena - Building deemed to be in fair to poor conditions with many components aged and beyond their usual lifespan. Immediate structural repairs are needed and a comprehensive renovation is recommended. Accessibility issues found and HVAC and lighting systems are aged in need of replacement. Exterior roofing is in need of replacement and parking lot in need of overlay or complete replacement. Total estimated cost - $5.52 to $5.97 million;
• Football Stadium - Improvements suggested for the site, grandstand and accessory structures with recommendations to upgrade the field’s drainage system or upgrade to synthetic turf. Also recommended were updates to sport lighting and providing structural and accessibility improvements to the grandstand, and consideration of permanent restroom facilities and the addition of a maintenance garage. Total estimated cost - $5.13 to $5.65 million, with add alternates for synthetic turf ($1.26 million) and replacing grandstand ($825,000);
• Baseball Field - In good condition but would benefit from modernization.
“For as nice a facility as it is, it does need some turf work out there,” said Chopp. “It’s very uneven in the outfield.”
Suggestions included regrading the natural turf field or upgrading to synthetic turf, replacing the current lighting with LED fixtures, additional accessible bleacher seating and the addition of a stand-alone restroom and concessions building. Total estimated cost - $3.51 to $4.19 million, with add alternate for synthetic turf ($1,037,000).
• Softball Field - Suggested improvements include new fencing, replacing bleacher seating, regrading the natural turf field or upgrading to synthetic turf and minor dugout repair. Total estimated cost - $533,800 to $586,000 with add alternate for synthetic turf ($640,800).
• High School Gymnasium - Lighting and electrical upgrades to replace old and outdated fixtures. Application of acoustical finish material over the existing plywood sheeting at the ceiling level to improve visual appearance and acoustics. Total estimated cost - $314,750 to $364,500.
• Old Locker Room - Updating interior finishes, plumbing fixtures, HVAC and lighting systems. Total estimated cost - $347,900 to $402,500.
• Weight room - Replacement of current lighting and ceilings to brighten up the room and improve energy efficiency. Total estimated cost - $33,600 to $41,300.
