When the North Judson-San Pierre School Board met last week they received a project report from Edward Sawa, the construction administrator of Fanning Howey.
Sawa has been working closely with Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin and Maintenance Director Wilbur Collins to determine the specifics of current capital projects. Last Tuesday Sawa informed board members of some the key preliminary findings from some onsite investigations.
Sawa said that duct cleaning was one consideration that was up in the air. Members of Amereco Engineering, a review team hired by Fanning Howey, observed the duct work within the buildings and found that any cleaning or repairs would be unnecessary at this time.
Sawa also shared the results of the site survey and soil boring tests that were conducted to find the prime location for the new tennis courts. He said the three locations being considered were the current location, a spot north of the existing softball field and a site on the location of the current football practice field.
The results of the soil sample tests indicated that the football practice field would not be an ideal location to build so that left the other two options. After considering the potential cost savings of utilizing the installed light poles and the proximity to existing drainage systems, it was determined that the current location is the preferred spot to put the new tennis courts.
Sawa mentioned there was a major flaw with the way the courts were first constructed and that can be amended with the proper foundation and drainage being installed on the site.
“Basically what you have there is you have an asphalt layer, and then below that is a sand and clay mixture.” He explained, “It was placed on the existing materials, what was compacted we can’t even tell you, but what we can tell you is that in the way that it was constructed at that point it didn’t have the proper sub base below it.”
Maintenance Director Wilbur Collins assured everyone at the meeting that they’ll be taking all necessary precautions to keep any similar issues from arising in the future. He said once the proper pieces are implemented correctly, then they shouldn’t run into any of the same problems.
