Committee recommends architect design new Gilpin building and locker room improvements

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Several recommendations from the properties and facilities committee, if approved by the Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education, could bring a new concession/restroom facility to Gilpin Memorial Field, new locker rooms at the high school, as well as renovations to the chemistry room. There also would be a renewed effort to sell the Grambau Center and eliminate the high cost to maintain the district’s oldest structure.

Committee chairman Bob Starnes presented the committee’s findings to the board at the March 9 regular meeting. They met March 7 to discuss the hiring of an architectural firm to prepare an initial design for the Gilpin facility and locker rooms. The field house could be a combination locker room facility with a concession stand and a restroom.

While the construction of a permanent public restroom facility at Gilpin is not a new idea, as it was proposed more than a decade ago, the current boosters group has offered to organize fundraisers to help pay for the building’s construction.

Part of the project would include sidewalk replacement along the U.S.-23 business route. Starnes said the city of Rogers City would pay 20 percent of the estimated $6,000. “WE CAN’T start until we have concrete ideas of what it (proposed building) is going to be,” said booster president Jay Schuiteman, who attended the regular board meeting. “We can’t ethically ask people to donate money toward a hypothetical building. We need the board to figure out what they want to do so we can show pictures, or some idea of what we are trying to help you accomplish.”

During a recent walk-through of the high school facility, some committee members described the condition of the high school locker rooms as ?deplorable?. That portion of the project would cost about $100,000.

Other facility improvements, which have been on the discussion table for the past several months, include rekeying the interior doors ($6,000 estimate); replacing the high school gym lighting with a more high efficiency equipment ($9,000); converting the air operated temperature controls to digital ($20,000); chemistry lab renovation ($20,000); and exterior and expansion joint repairs ($10,000).

The estimated cost of the high school projects is about $165,000, although some initial prices were collected in 2008. “THE CONSENSUS of the committee was to go with United Design of Cheboygan,? said Starnes of the architectural firm they would like to hire.

A motion was offered and supported to hire United Design, as well as proceed with the initia

l design of the building at Gilpin, but it had to be withdrawn because it hadn’t been placed on the agenda as action item at the beginning of the meeting. It’ll be back on the agenda in April.

The cost of the projects would come from the taxpayer supported building and site fund. The balance of the fund will be about $500,000 as of June 30. As far as the Grambau Center, Starnes said the committee recommends selling it “as soon as possible.” Yearly maintenance costs, which include utilities, are costing the district $45,000. That is after the $7,000 for rent is taken off the top.

Starnes said the selling of the building “has to be considered in light of the limited resources that we have.” Interim superintendent Don Schaedig added that the building is in need of work to some windows and doors. President Mike Marx said there would be some costs associated with closing the building as well. The County Development Commission is interested in the building as a business incubator.

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