Othello track to be repaired

OTHELLO — A portion of the Othello High School track is being repaired for nearly $30,000 due to tree-root damage.

District Superintendent George Juarez recommended at a board meeting Wednesday the district repair damage along the northern portion of the track and consider repairing the rest of the track in the future.

The board supported the recommendation 3-0. Board members Benjamin Ruiz Jr. and Charles Garcia were absent.

The total cost is $29,640. Board members rejected adding $18,000 to the project to spray, seal, re-stripe and conduct minor repair work to the entire track.

Roots were killed previously in the same area along the track, which is 7 to 8 years old, Juarez said.

"Is this (action) a guarantee that we won't have to do it again?" asked board member Angela Kirkwood.

"No," Juarez responded.

"And that's a problem," Kirkwood said.

She said she was unsure the roots would be killed the second time and wondered if the best course of action would be to wait a few years.

The district plans to complete the work in August. A trench is going to be dug to remove the roots, Juarez said.