by Eric Harold
In a special meeting held on Monday, February 5, the South O’Brien School Board approved six motions pertaining to construction projects at its facilities in Primghar and Paullina.
The meeting began with construction committee members Josh Rausch, John Beck, and board president Gina Paulsen assuring those present that the building plans had been thoroughly reviewed and that every effort had been made to address any questions that came up.
FEH Design of Sioux City produced the plans for the construction that will soon begin at each site later this summer.
School superintendent Wade Riley said it was his hope that the building committee would be ready to make recommendations to the rest of the board so that plans could be put out to bid.
“We spent two hours going through actual blueprints with Matt [Bayse] the other day,” said Rausch. “We’ve gone through them a couple of times now, just trying to foresee any potential issues or changes we should be making. Everything is very detailed in there, the electrical, the plumbing, you name it, so if we have any hiccups down the road, and obviously there always is with construction. It’s a lot to digest as there are three buildings to look at. I feel very comfortable with the plans.
Beck echoed Rausch’s sentiments, referring to the plans as “very detailed in phasing.”
Paulsen added, “I would say we asked multiple questions and dug a little deep into many aspects of it. We’ve talked through the phases. Matt and his team have done a great job of putting all together.
Bayse was present at the meeting with blueprints in hand to share with anyone who wanted to see them, but the only questions asked had nothing to do with design.
School district superintendent Wade Riley responded to a question about how construction plans will flow with the academic calendar.
“We don’t feel like there’s going to be a lot of disruptions,” Riley said, in reference to the work that will be done at the high school. “There’s going to be a temporary entrance on the south side. The west side will be closed off once the project gets started.”
Riley added that there would be a “little bit” of adjustment for students returning in August but school administrators would make sure that students were clear on things.
After previously looking to assign a project manager, a decision to cancel those plans was made following a lengthy discussion between Bayse and the construction committee prior to Monday’s meeting. It was felt that hiring a project manager would add considerable cost, and Bayse said at the meeting that he and others with FEH had the experience to handle matters that would normally fall to a project manager.
Following comments from Bayse, Riley asked again if there were any more questions for the committee. Paulsen then called for votes on each of the six items, which included approval of the proposed plans, specifications, and form of contract at each site. Other motions were public hearing time, date, and place, along with bid time, date, and place, and bids for the work being done at each campus.
Each measure passed unanimously.
Bids are let February 15 for the stage remodeling at the Elementary Building in Primghar and a separate one for the work at the Paullina location. The board also scheduled a public hearing for the Paullina bid on Monday February 19 at 6:00pm. The public hearing for the Primghar project is set for the same day and date at 6:05pm.
A public hearing is for the board to provide answers to questions about either project during its time asked by any memer of the public. Written comments can also be submitted to the business office.