MINERAL RIDGE School sports complex will get under way soon

An eight-lane, 400-meter all-weather track is also part of the plans.
By MARY R. SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Construction on the new Joe Lane Sports Complex at Mineral Ridge High School could begin as early as Monday, Weathersfield schools Superintendent Rocco Adduci told the board of education.
The board met in special session Friday evening to award contracts for work on the $950,000 complex. Contracts totaling $756,061 were awarded for construction of the grandstands, site work at the complex and electrical construction.
In the fall: The new complex is expected to be ready for use for band night and the first football game of the season in the fall.
Contracts went to:
USturdisteel Co., Waco, Texas, for the grandstands, for a bid of $262,900.
USchimleys Excavating, Niles, site work, $358,930.
UValley Electrical, Liberty, electrical construction, $138,500.
The grandstands will include home and visitors seating for a total of 2,500 seats. The home side will be moved to the west side of the complex and away seating will be on the east. Adduci said that bids for the seating in the grandstands came in higher than expected, which required an increase in the anticipated overall cost.
In the plans: The plans also include adding a concession stand and keeping one; building a 4,500-square-foot fieldhouse to replace the old one, which was deteriorated and has been torn down; and construction of restrooms, with 10 stalls for the women's, and four stalls and eight urinals for the men's. Four portable toilets had previously been used.
The district is making arrangements with Farmers National Bank to borrow $950,000 for the project, the cost of which has increased from $900,000 because of additions to the plans, Adduci said.
The complex will be built on five to six acres where the old football stadium, baseball field, track and tennis courts had been located behind the high school, at 1334 Seaborn Street. The old grandstands, lighting and field house have already been torn down in preparation for the construction.
An eight-lane, 400-meter all-weather track is also part of the plans for the new complex.
Donation: The project is being funded with a $500,000 donation from township businessman Joe Lane over the next 10 years, and also will use various other donations and planned fund-raising efforts.
The superintendent said fund-raising has been successful and officials expect it to continue.
Board members voted to forgo payment for the special meeting Friday, which would have been $80 each, on a motion proposed by Bruce Bacak.