Engineering firm to design electrical upgrades at HS

A Sioux Center firm was hired to provide electrical engineering services for updates to parking lots and ball diamonds at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School.

The agreement with Engineering Design Associates was approved by the school board on Nov. 21. The firm will be paid $15,500 for their services. The work will be completed as part of a single project. Separate projects would increase the design fees.

According to discussion, the upgrades under consideration are a priority in the district's high school facilities master plan.

Engineering Design Associates will develop plans for new lighting in the north parking lot, which currently is only illuminated by lights on the west side. They will also provide plans for replacing six existing fixtures in the south lot. Improved lighting will address safety concerns in the parking areas.

The master plan also includes a number of upgrades to the ball diamonds. Electrical-related projects include removal of the utility transformer on the west side of the baseball diamond and installation of a new pad and conduit infrastructure for the wiring. A distribution panel mounted on the existing transformer must also be replaced.

According to discussion, an anticipated delay of up to a year for delivery of the transformer could impact timing of the other improvements.

The electrical plans will also provide for new connections to other upgraded facilities at the diamonds. New scoreboards have already been ordered. Also proposed are new dugouts with attached storage space for both diamonds; new bleachers, press box, netting and fencing for the baseball diamond; and relocated batting cages and bullpens for both.

Discussion was also held regarding additional plans to pave a portion of the north driveway, improve accessibility in the north parking lot, construct a sidewalk leading to the softball diamond, and upgrade the west entrance to the high school building.

Board Member Ryan Haack said he would like to see paving of the north drive extend as far east as possible.

"To me that's a safety issue," he commented.

Beck Engineering is working with the district to develop the master facilities plan. Superintendent Patrick Carlin said they could have final plans for a portion of those upgrades ready for consideration next month.

In other business, resignations were received from Mark Fisher, high school math; Tom Lidiak, middle school social studies, middle school track and baseball; and Jayne Vander Lee, PK associate.

Seniors Shelby Kruger and Greg Collins were granted permission to graduate at the end of first semester.

Three Western Christian High School students will participate in H-M-S's new bowling program. The school will pay $250 per participating student, up to $1,000, as part of the sharing agreement. Information provided to the board stated the three Western Christian students live in Sanborn and along with H-M-S students had previously participated in the shared bowling program hosted by Sioux Central.