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H-BC faces $7.5 million in upgrade costs for buildings

Lead Summary
By
Mavis Fodness

Nearly $7.5 million worth of improvements are recommended for buildings in the Hills-Beaver Creek District, and school officials are weighing how many will be tackled in the next 10 years.
Earlier this year the district hired ICS Builds to assess the district facilities and point out where resources should be allocated to keep facilities in good useable condition.
On Nov. 30 the district’s Buildings and Grounds Committee reviewed the ICS findings to develop priorities for the state-required long-term facility maintenance report.
“I think it pointed out some good things,” said board member Tim Bosch. “(But) I look at some of these items as wants (not necessities).”
ICS assessed various components inside and outside of the elementary school in Beaver Creek and in Hills the secondary school, bus garages, Hugo Goehle gymnasium and the no longer used former high school.
Mike Hubbard with ICS Builds in Sioux Falls presented the report last month to committee members in what was the first comprehensive look at each facility’s condition.
Previously only certain areas, such as roof repairs, were assessed for potential upgrades.
ICS’ bid for the facilities assessment report was $4,050.
Engineers assessed outside appearances, interior conditions, mechanical and plumbing, electrical systems, life safety and security systems.
Cost estimates were included along with a suggested timelines, and Hubbard discussed possible funding paths. Prices in the assessment report also factored in inflation.
“You guys have great buildings,” Hubbard said. “Obviously our engineers had to make some assumptions about priorities. So if something breaks down earlier, it moves up.”
ICS broke down the $7.467 million in recommended upgrades by building:
•Elementary, $4.326 million
•Secondary, $1.629 million
•Hugo Goehle gymnasium, $945,022
•Off-site athletic field, $238,157
•Districtwide projects, $235,279
•Bus garage, $92,693
Over the next few weeks, H-BC officials will compile a list of the Top 10 projects that could be completed from 2021 to 2031. A larger project may be added to the list, depending on additional funding.
H-BC currently receives about $150,000 annually from the local tax levy for facility maintenance and upgrades. The figure is based on the age of existing facilities and the square footage.
 
Former high school demo price tag: $560,000
The district has done little to no upkeep to the 1921 former high school on East Second Street in Hills.
The building connects to the still used Hugo Goehle gymnasium.
The building was last used as a school in 2012, when the current secondary school on the northwest edge of Hills opened.
“We are going to come to a point where the 1921 building is a hazard,” said Superintendent Todd Holthaus.
Currently no one is allowed in the two-story brick structure.
ICS estimates the cost to demolish and to level the bare lot at $560,000, not including expenses for asbestos abatement.
However, the loss of square footage to the LTFM levy formula would mean about a $30,000 reduction in annual funding.
“It is not uncommon that need far outweighs funding,” Hubbard said.
 
Elementary school needs the most attention
Engineers estimated the 29,960-square-foot elementary school in Beaver Creek needs to most immediate attention.
The majority of the building (26,550 square feet) was constructed in 1997 and is attached to the school’s original 1955 building that primarily houses the gymnasium.
“The heating plant needs to be updated in the near future,” Hubbard said. “Much of the HVAC systems have exceeded their expectant life.”
Median life for HVAC systems is 15 years and the current steam boiler was installed 23 years ago.
Holthaus, however, indicated that the system, while inefficient, the operates effectively with some areas in the elementary school being too warm.
Boiler repairs have been few in recent years.
The ICS report stated that the boiler system that uses fuel oil and electricity to operate is inefficient and contributes to high energy costs for the district during the cooler months of the year.
In 2019, $139,940 was spent on electricity and fuel oil districtwide.
The elementary school accounted for $49,816 of the total amount. Heating the building accounted for more than half of the energy costs. From October through March 2019, the elementary school consumed $28,000 in fuel oil with more than $10,000 spend in February 2019.
The report also pointed out that the building’s in-wall air-conditioning units provide limited cooling to the office and 1997 second-story classrooms.
Engineers recommend upgrading the HVAC systems for better temperature control and for remote access.
They also recommend replacing the zoned fire alarm system to a more concise system that pinpoints the location of a fire and add a sprinkler system. New windows are also recommended.
The report points out that the gymnasium’s metal panel roof has begun to buckle and needs to be replaced. Tuck-pointing is also needed as well as improved water drainage around the building.
Hubbard added that the building lacks sufficient power outlets for today’s education environment.
The H-BC Buildings and Grounds Committee recommended an internal review of the elementary school’s boiler operating and repair expenses and not to rush to immediately replacement of the entire system.
 
Almost $1 million
needed for Hugo gym
H-BC Building and Grounds Committee members recognize that the Hugo Goehle gymnasium also needs immediate attention.
The 11,750-square-foot gym was constructed in 1955 with the 5,000 square-foot locker room addition added in 2004.
The ICS report suggests $945,022 in repairs and upgrades.
The largest repair ticket would go to a new roof ($238,302) and upgrades to the current fluorescent lighting to the more energy efficient light-emitting diode or LED.
Lighting is slowly being upgraded each year.
“If we replace it, it is replaced with LED,” board member Bosch confirmed with new building maintenance supervisor Dalton Bass.
 
Secondary school
needs less maintenance
Upgrades to the current fluorescent lighting systems is recommended for the secondary school.
The assessment stated replacing the current fluorescent lighting to LED provides better illumination, consumes less electricity and requires  less maintenance over time.
However, the electrical upgrade come at a price of $408,122.
The heating, cooling and at the 76,500 square-foot secondary school were not concerning to the engineers.
“Your mechanical systems are in good condition,” Hubbard said.
The secondary school uses a geothermal system for both heating and cooling of the eight-year-old building.
A propane-fueled boiler provides dehumidification throughout the warmer months. The heat pump and boiler have a life expectancy of 20 years.
In 2019, electrical and propane costs at the secondary school were $81,370.
Additional parking is also desired at the secondary school and was included in the 10-year plan to spend $1.629 million over 10 years.
 
Drainage, lighting needs at off-site athletic fields
H-BC maintains an off-site athletic field, located south of the secondary school in Hills.
Drainage of the football field is an issue and needs to be re-graded to provide proper water run off.
The press box has water infiltration and repair is needed to prevent further deterioration.
High intensity discharge lighting is used to illuminate the field and the bulbs need to be replaced.
The report outlined $238,157 in maintenance costs over 10 years.
 
Lighting in bus garages
Lighting upgrades are also in order for the 5,082-square-foot bus garage and 3,200-square-foot vehicle garage for energy efficiency and component longevity as with the secondary school.
The bus garage was built in 1997. The vehicle garage was erected in 1976.
Cost of the electrical upgrades is estimated at $92,693.

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