By Brian L. Gray

The Mandan School Board is weighing its options in paying for the upcoming renovation of the Mandan Community Center.

On Tuesday the board discussed the estimated $2.4 million that will be needed to design the facility with administrative offices and classrooms.

About $1 million in stimulus funds will be used for the renovation, leaving the district to come up with ways to pay for the remaining $1.4 million.

That amount could be paid for with a school construction loan, and if the building fund is raised by 1.55 mills.

This option, however, could mean more taxes.

No action was taken at the meeting.

The architect for the Community Center’s renovation, Al Fitterer, is currently working on making a few changes to the design plans.

Superintendent Wilfred Volesky told the board, “We need to come up with a figure, and then tell Fitterer that this is the dollar value we expect to pay. If we say $2.4 million is what is expected, then Fitterer will have to do what he can to stay under that number.”

The district plans to have bids for the renovation by May 1, in order for construction to begin in July, when it takes over possession of the Community Center.

The school district also expressed interest in purchasing the equipment from the park district’s fitness center at the Community Center.

Business Manager Joe Lukach said purchasing the weight and cardio equipment could cost anywhere from $8,000 to $12,000.

In other action:

No more Community Center sign

The board decided unanimously not to install an electronic billboard in the same location the Mandan Park District sign is located, at the northeast corner of the Mandan Community Center.

Board member Tim Rector said adding another sign in that location would mean the school district would be paying for another electronic sign two blocks away from a sign the high school already has. Costs for a sign could run as high as $50,000. When the park district moves its offices to its new location inside Raging Rivers, it will be taking the sign.

CAB inventory going on sale

Lukach said in the last few weeks he has been inventorying all of the equipment, furniture and fixtures at the Central Administration Building in preparation for the school district’s move to the Community Center.

The facility, currently on sale, has been shown to a church group that is interested in purchasing it. It was the group’s sixth showing, and it was pointed out that the CAB building has become the group’s main focus, as it isn’t moving forward with any other buildings at this time.

The selling price of the CAB was also dropped from $420,000 to $400,000.

Before the school district moves out, all of its inventory will be offered to all of the public schools. That will take place for one month, before the remaining items will be sold to the public.

“In the past we salvaged everything we could, then we sold the remaining items to other schools,” Lukach said.

Bids to be taken for middle school track

On March 1, the school district will be accepted bids for the construction of a track at the Mandan Middle School.

Lukach said in the bidding process, he will ask for separate bids on a six- or eight-lane track, with the option of a rubber surface, upon the request of board member Rector.

It’s not certain how much the project will cost, but Volesky said there is about $365,000 available in the budget for the track.