A construction trailer located on the school campus midweek was the surest sign yet that work is beginning on a major improvement to the district’s sports facilities.
Nearly $4 million worth of work begins this week and will continue through the fall and into 2027.
The school has $5.25 million to spend on the improvements, but set-asides for soft costs including payment to SEH as well as a 10 percent contingency leave about $4 million to spent on construction As currently proposed, the district will spend $3,912,880 on a package recommended by school administrators and the district’s facilities committee, and approved by the board in May.
Finances were again a concern during a project update at Monday’s regular school board meeting, as member Tony Colarich sought assurances that the project remained within budget.
“Is there a price locked in?” asked Colarich. “We made the reductions and stuff to match up our needs with our money.”
Superintendent Anne Oelke noted that an agreement with general contractor Max Gray Construction was reviewed by district attorney Kelly Klun and that the project is “within budget, not a penny over.”
Max Gray Construction submitted a low bid of $6,547,000 for the project, but school officials later trimmed about $2.6 million worth of work to keep the project within budget.
“At our next meeting will be the full package with the change orders that we discussed and approved,” said Oelke.
Representatives of the general contractor as well as numerous subcontractors were on campus June 4 for a preconstruction meeting and a walk-through, and that sets the stage for the work to begin.
Colarich also reiterated that the district has set aside contingency funds for the project.
“We were very conservative with our contingencies,” said Oelke.
Remaining in the package are various upgrades to the ice arena including structural, accessibility and locker room heating system improvements, as well as:
• Handicap accessibility including a ramp at the football stadium as well as upgrades for track team practices;
• Renovations to the baseball field including leveling and new sod for the playing surface, a paved pavilion and viewing deck on the first base side and new batting cages;
• A full overhaul of the softball field including a new playing surface, and scoreboard and bleacher replacement;
• Gymnasium upgrades including plaster repair and an acoustic ceiling;
• A new building between the baseball and softball facilities that would include restrooms and a joint concession stand.
Numerous other items were taken out of the project, including $1.1 million for the arena shell, down spouts and gutters, and better than $600,000 for football grandstand and field work.
Given tight budget constraints, board members have indicated that there’s no wiggle room and that the project must stay within the $5.25 million budget.
Thanks to legislative action in 2024, the school has $5.25 million to spend to improve its athletic facilities and a district committee, with the help SEH had come up with an assortment of projects at the campus football, baseball and softball fields, ice arena and gymnasium.
In late-2024, SEH conducted an athletic facilities needs assessment that 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.
