MINERAL RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL Upgrades requested for sports complex
The board is being asked to consider allocating more funds to the new stadium.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Weathersfield Board of Education has been asked to consider approving $250,000 to $300,000 in upgrades to the Joe Lane Sports Complex.
Superintendent Rocco Adduci and Treasurer Angela Lewis told the board Wednesday a more precise figure of the added costs will be presented at the board's May meeting.
Adduci said the original estimate was $900,000. He said the board already has had to make decisions that have increased that cost.
He said about a $250,000 increase is expected to increase the size of some buildings, install enough toilets to accommodate 2,500 people the stadium will seat, a weight room and locker-room showers and use concrete block for construction.
He said the final cost could reach $1.2 million to $1.25 million. Joseph Lane, a township resident, donated $500,000, or about one-third the cost. The community, with donations already made and plans for fund raising, is expected to contribute one third.
The complex will include a field house and an eight-lane all-weather track.
Expanded plans: Adduci told the board that among additional costs not included in that $900,000 figure are: a high jump area inside the track; two long jump lanes on the north side of the track; a band shell; an addition to a new concession stand; enlarging the locker room, which will leave open the weight room at the high school for a classroom; and a gravel road behind the fieldhouse.
He said bids for constructing the concession stand and buildings in cement block came in lower than expected.
The board approved contracts totaling $378,682 to Antenucci Inc. and Thompson Mechanical of Warren, Waynco Electric of Mineral Ridge and DVS Builders of Warren for locker room, concession stand and weight room work.