Article Image Alt Text

Work continues on school construction

LAUREL —  Utilities are being marked in preparation for soil sampling on the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge school facility building project and an architect has been hired.

The initial contract with Carlson West Povondra architects was for pre-bond election work but a formal project contract was approved and extended to the firm for architectural services moving forward.

The contract represents 7.25 percent of the project budget, said Superintendent Jeremy Christiansen.

Also, a series of 29 different meetings with small groups of faculty and staff members have been completed where they had the opportunity to learn more about the project design.

Elementary Principal Paige Parsons said staff provided excellent feedback and considerations for the design.

Invitations to prospective members of a Project Accountability and Design Committee were extended and will include 12-15 members. The committee will include representatives from the school board, faculty and staff, community and students.

According to the latest estimated design phase schedule, schematic design development officially starts next week and last until Nov. 5. Construction document development will be next until Jan. 28, then the bidding phase until Feb. 25.

Christiansen said he’s been working on alternate instruction, and staff and student relocation plans related to project phasing.

“While plans are very preliminary, I feel that we are making some positive progress and connections with community leaders,” he said.

Under the guidance of financial firm D.A. Davidson, LCC has secured an interest rate of .85 percent. Security Bank and Citizens State Bank will be splitting the lease purchase loan at more than $3.4 million each with closing set for Sept. 30.

The first issuance of $3.145 million in bonds at an interest rate of 1.85 percent is set to close Sept. 30 as well. An additional $10 million bond issuance is recommended by D.A. Davidson in early 2022. The remaining bonds of more than $5.3 million will be released for issuance in 2023 if needed.

At its last meeting, the school board also approved the opening of six construction-related bank accounts - three checking and three money-market investment accounts to keep up with the building fund’s lease account, bond account and bond funds.

Stay in the know!

To get news alerts on your cell phone, get the Cedar County News app in the ITunes store or  in the Google Play Store.

Northeast Nebraska News Company

102 W. Main
Hartington NE 68739
402-254-3997