The Knox Community School Board held a public hearing Monday night to gather comments on the corporation’s proposal for updates to the Knox High School and additional projects at the two other schools and corporation office.
The upgrades at the high school include the fire alarm system; new energy-efficient heating and cooling systems; 29 touch screen panels; a message board; exterior door replacement; mechanicals; carpeting in the library, pit area, band room, and main office; fencing; painting; LED lighting; and tuck pointing. Other upgrades at the other facilities include LED lighting, carpeting, paving, new Weinberg gym scoreboard, tennis court rehabilitation, and the replacement of domestic hot water supply pumps at the middle school. The total cost of all aspects is just cents under $5 million.
Tim Pitts from EMCOR presented information on a guaranteed services contract. The company will take care of gathering bids and bring those figures back to the board for approval. He will provide an annual report to the board that will outline the cost savings of all the new energy saving efforts being made in this project.
Curt Pletcher from Umbaugh and Associates gave the board a timeline of repayment of first mortgage bonds that will be sold in order to pay for the project. He stressed that there will NOT be an increase in taxes as the school will maintain their current debt obligation payments through the eight-year bond to repay this obligation and they can be preventing foreclosure.
No other public comment was given.
The board took action to move forward with the proposed upgrades by approving several resolutions pertaining to the project, determining need for the project, approving form of second amendment to lease, reapproving the building corporation, and declaration of official intent to reimburse expenditures.
The projects are anticipated to begin this summer.
