Posted: 3/3/04
By MaryHelen Swanson
Keeping the school districtís fleet of 14 buses safe and under cover is important to the members of the Rush City School Board.
Last Thursday, they agreed, after lengthy discussion, to hire the DLR Group to flush out details of a new bus garage and have the districtís financial director check into financing options.
Last month, Superintendent Tim Eklund brought a garage proposal to the board at a cost of $650,000, last week he had the cost whittled to $400,000.
He said he was trying to get the garage as cheaply as possible, while providing what the district needs.
Last month the board was looking at a 20-stall facility, this month itís down to 14, with office space, and room for expansion.
Costs could vary depending on the type of floor put in, but, Eklund had Charles Orten of the DLR Group check with the North Branch district about a class 5 floor and learned that it would not be allowed anymore.
Asphalt was talked about as a substitute for concrete, but while cheaper, it has its own drawbacks, such as eventual dips caused by the heavy buses.
With other potential changes to Eklundís original proposal, Eklund believes the district is looking at near $400,000 for a bus garage.
In addition, Eklund said the school district has been talking with the city administrator and there might be some trade-off negotiations in connection with the old bus site and the sanitary sewer hookup charges.
Itís land we donít have any use for, said Eklund, of the old bus garage site located across from City Hall.
The board agreed that it would be a good idea to have City Administrator Daniel Hoffman talk with the city council about potential collaboration on the project.
Flushing out board consensus to move forward with the garage was a little more difficult.
Eklund told the board the district canít continue to send buses home with the drivers and it canít continue to rent buildings at the county fairgrounds.
Board member Gwen Goretsas felt the board should go ahead, especially for the protection of the buses. But she asked if the district can financially do it.
Financial director Laureen Frost said yes, reminding the board of the lease-purchase option discussed in January.
She also said the district could write out a check for the project using fund balance in the operating capital budget.
The district has enough rainy day money to do it, she said.
Eklund agreed, but said it would be a little scary when school districts around Rush City are cutting budgets.
Still, he said he didnít anticipate any budget reductions for next year.
Board member John Bosman was in favor, as was member Paul Pasche, however, Pasche was not ready to say yes until some details have been nailed down.
And he wasnít keen on the asphalt idea.
In other business, the board:
ï received cards of thanks from all the children at the elementary school for the new building;
ï learned that the Open House for the elementary school will be March 21;
ï learned that the 5th-grade carnival raised $5,800 for students to go to their winter camp experience;
ï learned that during an unannounced check of lockers on Monday, Feb. 22, using 3 drug sniffing dogs, no evidence of drugs was found in the building;
ï discussed the JOBZ designation in Rush City with administrator Hoffman. hoffman explained that the city would be putting together a business subsidy plan that would lay out the types of jobs, wages, benefits, etc. that would be approved in the 72-acre area included in the JOBZ area south of the current industrial park. The board moved 4-1 to adopt a resolution accepting the tax exemption process within the JOBZ area. Member Bosman abstained, member Pasche voted against the motion.
He said he could not approve of it without knowing the parameters. Hoffman assured the board that it was not the cityís intention to ìgive anything awayî; and
ï Set 6:30 p.m., March 11 as a special board meeting to consider applications for the position of superintendent. There have been 40 contacts about the position and 18 completed applications have been received.
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