Othello School Board talks sports complex

OTHELLO — Whether or not to ask voters to approve a separate levy for a new sports complex was the subject of discussion at the regular meeting of the Othello School Board Wednesday.

Board members will sponsor a workshop to discuss some of the options at 6:15 p.m. Jan. 9, prior to the next board meeting. The board is in the preliminary discussion stages of a “capital levy,” which would have to be approved by district patrons.

The board has entered into an agreement to buy 81.14 acres along Lee Road, between Seventh and 14th streets. The agreement becomes final in mid-January. The tentative plan is to use the site for the new sports complex and eventually a new Othello High School. Board members have discussed offering the capital levy to voters sometime in 2017, and a construction bond sometime in 2018.

Board member Tony Ashton said he didn’t see any risk to buying the property. “If we can’t use it, we’ll sell it.” The district would benefit even if it kept the land, but didn’t build a high school, he said. The site of Wahitis Elementary was purchased a decade or more before the school was built, he said, and its proposed purpose changed over time. “But if they hadn’t bought it, we would’ve been in trouble.”

Board members, when thinking about possibilities for a sports complex, came up with a track and football field (with artificial turf), baseball and softball fields, a soccer field, parking, bathrooms, concession stand and bleachers. They asked a pair of companies for estimates, which were discussed at the board meeting.

The estimate from Hella Construction was $23 million, and $13.8 million from Architects West. Architects West also provided an estimate for a smaller project, including the track and football field, bathrooms, parking and concession stand. That estimate was $8.8 million.

Ed Champagne, a principal architect at Architects West, said the property lacks water and sewer services, and the cost of developing those is unknown. For that reason the estimates include sizeable contingencies, Champagne said.

“I have as many questions for you as you have for me,” Champagne said. A more precise estimate would require more detailed information on what would be included. “In my mind an athletic complex includes whatever we can build for $5 million,” Ashton said.

Board member Rob Simmons said he based his estimate of $5 million on a project built in phases, or one that was constructed as part of a new high school. He suggested the board come up with an amount and ask for an estimate of what the district could get for its money.

Board members asked for an estimate at $7.5 million, and $5 million. Champagne said the biggest unknown is the cost of infrastructure development.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.