By Jolene Farley
Voters passed the $400,000 levy Tuesday, ensuring that construction on the locker room and fitness center at Hills-Beaver Creek High School will move forward.
H-BC School Board members immediately canvassed the election results at a meeting after the polls closed.
"What’s ironic is this is real close to that survey we received in January," said Superintendent Dave Deragisch.
The district sent out a survey in December 2002 asking residents if they were interested in the locker room project at a cost of $400,000.
Initial cost estimates for the project without a weight room ranged from $398,144 to $439,552.
The weight room adds $113,302 to the project, handled by Group II Architects, Sioux Falls.
With 453 votes, 315 yes votes or 69.5 percent and 138 no votes or 30.5 percent, there was good participation at the polls.
"The big thing I was telling people was … vote … I don’t care how you vote, just vote," Deragisch said.
Only 12 people reportedly cast their ballots at the last Martin Township election, but on Tuesday, 109 voters showed up.
Construction is tentatively scheduled to start after bids are opened May 8, but school officials hope to set that date earlier.
Test drilling has been done at the construction sight to test the soil, according to Deragisch.
A final review of the building plans between the school board and the architect is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, and bidding information will be issued on Friday, April 4.
The vote broke down in this way: the City of Beaver Creek had 57 yes votes and 11 no votes; the City of Hills, 115 yes votes and 16 no votes; the City of Steen, 29 yes votes and 11 no votes; Springwater Township, seven yes votes and 11 no votes; Clinton Township, 18 yes votes and 13 no votes; Beaver Creek Township, 25 yes votes and 31 no votes; Martin Township, 64 yes votes and 45 no votes.
