By Jolene Farley
Superintendent Tom Knoll informed Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members Monday evening that costs are more than anticipated for the locker room addition to the high school.
"It really is not quite enough ($200,000) to do it in the proper measure," said Knoll. "It is really the board's call."
Group II Architects, Sioux Falls, provided a rough cost estimate to the district for no fee.
The board voted unanimously at the March 12 meeting to retain the services of Group II Architects for the project.
Knoll said, "The funding mechanism is the key to doing this." He suggested the board invite the financing group Ehlers and Associates to make a presentation to the board on obtaining an additional $200,000 in financing.
Minnesota statute doesn't allow school districts to obtain direct financing from lending institutions, according to Williams.
Plumbing costs added tremendously to the cost of the project, according to Knoll.
The question board members must decide is "Will it jeopardize the districtÕs fund balance?," said board member Dave Roozenboom.
After much discussion it was decided to table the issue until all board members are present. Ann Boeve and Lois Leuthold were absent.
Knoll also advised the board that they should try to negotiate lower architectural fees for the project.
Fees are currently set at 12 percent of total construction costs, not including reimbursable expenses. Twelve percent of a $200,000 project would be $24,000, and of a $400,000 project $48,000.
"We could buy a teacher for that," said Knoll.
At a Feb. 26 board meeting, Knoll advised the board not to go over the $200,000 mark for the project. At the time, both the board and Knoll thought the amount would be adequate to build a 2,000-square-foot locker room.
At the same meeting, board member Gary Esselink made the motion that $200,000 was the maximum amount the district could spend on the locker room project. The motion carried.
The board hoped private donations and money from the city of Hills would also help finance the project.