H-BC refines upcoming building plan at $29.9 million

Building an adequate budget is causing members of the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board to consider all aspects of their long-term facility plans before making a final decision.
The district is facing a deadline of this month in order to place the amount to a public vote in April.
They are considering the timeframe for optimal results. This includes time for the state’s review and comment on the project, the best time for one or more bond sales, and when to call for bids.
“We want to give architects time to do accurate plans,” said Preston Euerle with construction managers RA Morton. “We would like to bid in January, which is better than February/March. We also want to give materials lead times.”
Board members agreed at Dec. 17 to increase the project budget to $29.9 million.
The amount includes the construction of a new elementary school and the upgrade to the Hugo Goehle gymnasium site.
Previously the board considered $26.4 million to complete the same project.
However, at their board workshop on Dec. 19, they requested an estimate to replace the gymnasium roof.
A new roof is estimated to cost $350,000.
Members want an adequate budget before bringing the bond referendum decision to voters in April.
They’re concerned about cost overruns that plagued the district in 2011, when the secondary school was constructed in Hills. The decision to ask voters for less money than the cost estimates placed the district into statutory debt until 2014.
“The secondary building was projected higher and it was decided to go under that amount,” explained Superintendent Todd Holthaus. “That was partly where the district was short on the project.”
Dean Benninga with the architectural firm ATS&R has been working with the district on cost estimates.
“We don’t try to overestimate or underestimate,” he said. “We used a database of what things cost and we apply those numbers to the square footage that you’ve affixed to the new building. We put in contingency and inflation on top of that.”
As architectural plans are finished, cost of purchasing 12 acres for the new elementary school is included.
Holthaus said he has contacted a landowner in Beaver Creek and have opened a dialogue for the possible land purchase.
“In my opinion I think the discussions went well,” he said. “The deal is not done at this point but we’ve got things going down that alley with the landowner.”
Architects selected three potential elementary school locations in Beaver Creek for possible purchase.
The board is also working with a public financial adviser with Ehlers Inc. to determine the bond impact on district property owners.
Final impacts will be presented at upcoming public meetings unveiling the scope of the project before the bond referendum vote.