Construction of track, tennis building stalled

McCOOK, Neb. — With no bids received for a proposed steel building for restrooms/storage/and concessions for the track and tennis court, the McCook School District will look into other options.

This will include negotiating with local contractors and working with organizations like W Designs, Superintendent Grant Norgaard told the McCook Board of Education Monday at the regular meeting.

A “Request for Proposals” was advertised for the construction job, McCook Schools Business Manager Jeff Gross said. In following up with some pre-bids, Gross said he found contractors are leery of putting in bids because prices change so rapidly, sometimes within 24 hours.

Norgaard said he contacted the school district’s attorney to find out the next step after receiving no bids for the building and was told it was up to the district to decide what to do to move forward. Since then, W Designs have been in contact with several contractors and subcontractors about services needed and there has been interest from some for different parts of the construction, Norgaard said, adding that he’s also talked with the school district’s maintenance staff to see what kind of work they could do.

Gross specified contractors have been contacted for dirt work, electric work and plumbing, in “putting all the pieces together.”

At some point, a new plan for the construction of the building and any bids received will be put before the board for approval, he said.

Last month at the October board meeting, the school board unanimously approved specifications prepared by W Design for a 30-foot by 60-foot steel building, to be located along the sidewalk leading from the tennis courts to the track. The building will have a 20-foot awning in front, the east side patio will also be covered. It will have eight, ADA-compliant restrooms for women and men, four each, which doubles the number of restrooms at the current building. A wider sidewalk is also part of the project. The building will also have a storage room for track equipment along with a larger concession area.

The current building, at the top of the hill overlooking the track, will still have the press box upstairs and the four small bathrooms will be accessible.

The project will use the funds the district has been saving in the Special Building Fund.