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WHEELING -- Ohio County Board of Education members this week approved nearly $1.3 million in improvements to track facilities at Wheeling Park High School.
Steven Bieniek, business manager for Ohio County Schools, reported to members the low bid for the project came in from Jarvis, Downing and Emch (JD&E) of Wheeling at $1,279,200
Over the past year, the track has been resurfaced, and a slip in the nearby hillside has been replaced, and that construction came in at about $300,000 and was paid for through the terms of a $42.2 million bond issue approved by voters in 2018.
The second phase of the project, meanwhile, will be paid for through the school district's budget carryover funds, Bieniek said.
Board member Molly Aderholt asked what was included in the nearly $1.3 million price.
"I don't remember thinking it was going to be that much," she said. "Did we have an idea?"
Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones said there had been no estimates for the project.
"This package will be tearing down all the bad buildings you see at the start line/finish line, and there we will be building a new facility," he said. "A press box, storage and a concession stand will be coming over there. Right now, they're on the other side of the track."
Ohio County Schools Operations Director David Crumm said there will be accessible restrooms for those with disabilities as part of the new building, and some additional parking will be constructed that will include some spots for those with disabilities.
There will be repaving and new drainage placed, he added.
The current concession and training area will become the new restroom facilities, Crumm continued. The building that presently houses the restrooms will be demolished.
A nearby storage building will be redone on the outside, and get a new roof, he said.
Aderholt asked if there was an itemized breakdown for all the work.
Bieniek said project manager M&G Architects of Wheeling may have the breakdown, but the school district did not.
Recently, the board approved the expenditure of $1.55 million for new turf at the WPHS baseball field. The new multi-purpose athletic field next door came with a price tag of about $2 million.
Aderholt reminded the board the school district could always face a loss of funding in the future, and is considering an expensive study to reassess bus routes in the district.
"As a general comment, we have been spending a lot of money on our facilities, which I think is great ...," Aderholt said. "I guess I didn't think it was going to be quite this much money. I'm not against it. But going forward, it is notable."
The motion to accept the bid from JD&E was unanimously approved by board members.