Wellington school board approves construction of new track which won’t be built until 2017
This will be the surface of the new track.
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — At a special meeting held this week, the Wellington school board approved the construction of a new track. But the construction of the track at the middle school won’t start until June 1, 2017.
The Wellington board approved the recommendation of assistant superintendent Brad Morris to rebuild the current dilapidated track from the ground up for a cumulative $484,400. The asphalt track will cost $281,400 and the red shell topping will be for $103,000. Morris estimates it will take two months to complete and be ready around the first of August, 2017.
In the meantime, the spring track season may be chaotic. Wellington Track Coach Charles Wallace said because the current condition of the track is unserviceable, he thinks the home high school and middle school track meets will need to be farmed out to an area school such as Belle Plaine or Caldwell. There may be a way to have grade school track meets, but that will need to be reviewed when the time approaches.
The deterioration of the track which is located behind the Wellington Middle School, has led the board to look at either replacing it completely or just put another covering on top of the current track pad. The track was last rebuilt in the mid-1990s.
“This will be my second rebuilt track,†laughed board member Angie Ratcliff. “I have been here awhile.â€
Morris said he toured the tracks at Caldwell and Ark City which were rebuilt four and six years ago respectively.
“After talking with several people, we decided the best option is to start from scratch,†Morris said.
The monies will come out of the school’s capital outlay budget. He said there is enough there for it not to be a problem. The money will be set aside and collect interest until the time comes to start construction.
Beynon Construction located in Park City, Utah will construct the track. Morris assured the board company officials said the cost of the project will not go up in a year’s time.
The board had the option of starting construction immediately, but the consensus was there was not enough time especially with weather concerns.
“I think we all know that with construction not all deadlines get made,†said Mark Whitener, Wellington Superintendent.
