001Stand for pledge, please. >> To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> He's right there. >> I hear him. >> Y >> All right. >> Public comment, >> I think. >> Um, >> Mr. >> Yeah, sure. Why not? >> Yeah, >> sure. >> Come sit down in the hot seat. >> Oh, hi. >> Hello. >> What's happening? >> Am I on camera? I can say on camera. >> We're on We're public comment. You better public comment. >> No public allowed. No public allowed. >> You're taking up his time. >> Well, it's very nice because technically, yes, you don't have to allow public comment, but uh I just I heard you guys were talking about
002the turf this evening. Thank So, I just wanted to come out to uh to uh support your efforts in uh trying to get the uh turf replaced. Um I know there's been a lot of comment about uh spending in town, especially it's being budget season. Um but uh my hope is that uh the public can become more educated as to why we need to uh spend money on replacing the turf uh hopefully passing referendum next November. Um, so, uh, hopefully the new numbers will be coming out soon. Do you know soonish? Maybe a couple months >> for the turf. >> Yeah. >> Um, hopefully. Hopefully. Pretty soon. >> Okay. Pretty soon. Or possibly this meeting. >> Possibly. >> I think we won't have the numbers. We'll have a better idea. >> All right. All right.
003Great. So, anyway, yes, I just wanted to come out and support the turf and uh and support your efforts and I'll be there to help the efforts. >> We appreciate general citizen. And because >> thank you for your time >> and because I've never run a meeting where I've actually had public comment. Can for the state from the name for the record your name and address? >> Uh Adam Grippo 6 Balsome Place Cheshure. >> Thank you. >> Former board member. >> Yeah. Oh yeah. >> Are you hanging around or could I ask a question right now? >> No. Yeah. I was going to hang I wanted to hear the report if there was a report. >> I uh Yeah. I just see at the end of the agenda so I wasn't sure we're going to
004um simple question. You said you would be helping out. Do you know if there's anything bigger than that? Like bigger than you and specifically like any sort of money to uh help promote awareness and I'm not saying any like particular amount. I'm just curious is there anything there? >> Uh there might be activities of foot. >> That's all I can say. >> Are you asking for some supplemental support in the event that we short our conversation? >> No, I'm literally talking about like just getting the word >> $10,000 for a direct mailer. >> Like that's it. I mean, I I've personally talked to people who were involved >> in the effort last time >> and hopefully we're all going to get together and then we'll see what's needed after the numbers come in, you know.
005>> Okay. >> Thank you, Adam. >> Thank you. >> All right. I'm kicking it back over to you. >> Great. We didn't receive any emails. Uh so we have a few items on our agenda tonight. I am going to go over our capital expenditure plan based on where we are with the town. I think that this will likely go to the board of ed in May because they're looking to approve in July. So, it's it's definitely been pushed back a little bit. Um, which I actually think was advantageous this year for us to evaluate where we were a little a little bit later. So, we'll go over that. Um, as part of the capital expenditures plan, I actually have Kevin coming from SLR. um he's the engineer who's working on the the track and field
006project um that allocation that was approved for just design money only. So he has his initial plan and I wanted him to come here so you could ask him questions or give any recommendations for feedback. So he's going to come at 6:30 and so is John Paracino. So they'll they'll both be joining us. Um so without much uh further ado, I'm going to go back into the capital expenditure plan. I do have a lot of documents here. Um, so I'll send these electronically to you, but this big packet um is the actual five-year, well, now it's kind of a 10-year outlay of capital plans. And um this looks a lot different than last year. Last year, the five-year outlay was $62 million approximately. Uh but at the end of the cycle last year, we were
007asked to allocate um some of the funds, push a lot of the funding out to further years, and also create a year six through year 10 project. So you'll see that column as well. Um and that creates quite an offset when we're talking about our capital planning because it's $28 million in year six through 10. Um and as we look at the plan year as outlined here, uh the total value of plan years 1 through five is $28 million. So just a very general question in terms of you were talking about $60 million through year five. Now it's >> $60 million through year 10 split 3030 50/50 whatever. Uh is it fair to say that you basically had say as an example $30 million in sort of like placeholder projects in year five that you
008just pushed out because >> Yeah. I think it's >> and that's fine. I'm not like saying anything bad. I think it's I think it's valuable to have like the placeholders to be aware of all that stuff. I don't know. I think some of them are placeholders and definitely bigger value pro um projects like uh Dodd Middle School, there's an Hback project on the second page um and a window replacement. That's that's a big chunk of this. Um and some of it's just been deferred and it kind of feels like, you know, it's um it is not going to get approved. So, we've kind of put like emergency >> I got it >> expenses in the first couple of years. The other thing about this plan that is different is we obviously are we going through
009the energy performance contract and so I've removed what could be covered. We don't have anything finalized yet but I put this on a green piece of paper. So the offsets from the potential these are not approved part of the energy performance contract but these have been removed from the plan um is about $20 million. >> So does this represent the current year column that's missing on the larger >> Yes. So this these are not this doesn't show up in the ma the master plan the primary plan. This has all been taken out because they could be covered through the energy performance contract. So we would not need to request the money in the capital expenditures plan. So >> 252. So where's 2526 on the master plan? >> Oh um this one the it would be
010plan year zero. So because we're in that year now that was already approved. >> So plan year one is for next year for the capital plan, >> right? Yep. >> But it's 2425. That's why I was confused. >> This is 2425. >> Oh, sorry. That just means that that's just a typo. >> Okay. So, this is technically 25. >> Sorry about that. I'll make sure that's corrected. >> So, so at a very high level, you're thinking potentially up to $20 million for the performance contract unrelated >> to solar, which is kind of an expensive thing. This is this is more efficiency. >> Yes. >> Mechanical stuff. Wow. >> Right. And I and I don't know that this will all be covered. Um but I think for the purposes of the capital plan, you know, I
011I have this set aside so in the event it doesn't get approved, we can push things back in. Um you know, there's a lot of renovation product projects um that have higher dollar values. I think um notably we've put in here, I know we have talked about uh the Highland roof replacement, how that came back uh a lot higher than initially anticipated. That's row 16. I've put this this here for now. Um because we would also need more funding for that. >> Um do a little air conditioning. Is that in here? >> Yeah. So the do little air conditioning I'm just double checking this one. Yes. So that's the uh it shows. Yes. The Hback the comprehensive the $7 million. Yes. Correct. >> But that's if we're looking at that year four >> maybe. Yeah.
012Yes. Um, do we run into an issue with the other three schools being airond conditioned and that one not? >> I think realistically, yeah. I mean, where we're where we we have climate controlled campuses, elementary schools except for Dittle. >> Yes. >> So, >> I think the the other challenge with Dittle is, you know, it's an HVAC replacement, but it's also single pane windows. So, all of those things have to be done kind of around the same time. Yep. Um, it's a really comprehensive need for Dittle. So, that's that's the next slide down the $2.5 million. >> Yeah. >> Because I just, you know, we're going to have to answer a entire district >> in town. >> Yeah. >> Saying, "Why doesn't my kid have air conditioning when it's 90 degrees out?" Mhm. And I
013would say that if you're looking at do little to get it climate controlled, it's really that 7 million, that 2.5, and then that $3 million, right? It's window, roof, and HVAC. So, it's it's a pretty large price tag. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, um, one other document that I have for you is just the year one projects. I just put them on this sheet so you wouldn't have to try to go through all of them. Um, so these are these are all the ones that are put in plan year 1. Um, I have to correct that 2425 again. That's 25 26. Um, I would say that it should just say like plan year zero is really prior approved projects. So if you look for example fire alarm control system, there was money that was
014already approved for that $43,000, but we do need um more money in year one. And I will say that this doesn't plan year one doesn't always represent the entire scope of the project. I think in the case of the Dittle fire alarm control system, that $30,000 um is needed for design money in conjunction with the 43,000. Um but if you're looking to see like what is the the five-year outlay, you could just use that internal project ID to find it lined up on the other um the more comprehensive document. Uh I think things of note on this first year plan, if it's in yellow, it's a new request. Everything else has been requested and deferred in prior years or has had partial approvals. Um, and some notable items that are new uh include I would
015say if you look at the two Norton projects, there are questions about a storage building at Norton that's also going through um the school committee. So that might be taken off of here if it gets approved. Um but we we put it in because we would we would need storage during next year. You can see that there's a DOD middle school athletic field upgrade. There's a $50,000 that actually doesn't represent the entire um project, but just some athletic field upgrades that have been requested. There are some drainage issues at DOD. Um and just kind of getting them in better shape than they currently are. You'll see other new projects. Um it says facility services because it's housed at Chesher High School, but it's really the maintenance garage and that's some snow removal equipment. Uh we've
016had a really rough winter obviously and that has taken a toll on our equipment. Um, and our snow removal is done in-house, but it is also done um through a contractor. We use both. Um, let me just see that. I think that's Kevin, so I'm just going to grab him. There we go. I can also give you this share. >> Um, and you'll see on the back page there's um the facility services garage, some code compliance issues that are outlined. more extensively in the larger document and then Barnum the same thing with Norton having the storage building and the power equipment. Um those are new projects in plan year one. The sizable uh projects is the turf and field replacement which is about threequarters of the way down the first page. I have put in
017$1.5 million. We're going to be talking to Kevin at SLR today but that is the number I put as a placeholder. Um, and then there's also the south parking lot loading dock. We have an updated figure for 874,000 up from 800,000 last year. That also failed at referendum. So um and then some other things are some stage renovations um at Dodd and Dittle um since those campuses aren't really seeing other upgrades. Um and then I would say that those are those are pretty big projects. So that is plan one, plan year one. Um, we have our comprehensive plan, we have our EPC. Um, I don't think that we're going to get to a place where we've confirmed where all of these where the entire outlay is for the next five years, but just wanted to
018kind of provide these documents with the hope that we can have Kevin talk to us about the turf. Um, and then we'll probably have another meeting uh next month to start to um make any shifts that we want to for the capital. Uh, I will say the first year is $6.8 million. That's a big chunk is the turf which is 1.5. Last year uh the board approved $5.04 million that was ultimately reduced by the town for about $3 million and then two items failed at referendum. So we looked at about like $1.5 million of capital funding that we were able to access this year including a $1.1 million fire alarm control system. So that was the majority of the money we got from last year approved. Was that for Dodd or was that a year
019ago we did DOD? >> Yeah, that's not Dodd. Um the fire alarm. Yes, it's the high school and then DOD had been done recently the fire control panel. So that that was updated. >> Yes. >> So the turf is not on this list. >> Yes, it is. It's the Yeah, this one right here. The >> Yes. >> Okay. And that's all in year one because we have the usually we have a a design year, but because we we've done that so far with um with SLR, we can absorb some of those other permitting if the house gets all approved in capital. >> Couple questions. Um okay, window replacement $500,000. >> That's the referendum cut off. >> Yes. >> But is it 5001 or is it 499? Where does >> 500 even goes to? >> Yes.
020>> Okay. >> Yes. And and what I'd have to look back for this specific one is if other projects are considered like if we have prior approved for windows which I can double check like anything that puts us above 500 would have to go to referendum. Like if they said 100,000 but we had had money approved in the past if it pushes us over 500 it's going to referendum >> and approved being not necessarily at referendum but say $200,000 approved by the council at their threshold. Then we went out and did 300,000. That aggregates to 500,000 and it goes to referendum. That's my understanding. Does that make sense what I said? >> Yeah. So it would it be if the town council approved it? Yes. And it was approved under the the threshold and then
021we went back for more. Yes, you've got that right. >> And it would be it'd be something that would be considered a similar project. So if it was windows at the high school for 200 and this would this was 300,000 for windows at Highland. >> No, >> that would be separate projects and they could both be onto the 500. Okay. >> Yes. So, thank you for that. Um, there's only three that are at the 500, I think, here. >> Yeah, three that are 500. Okay. So, jumping to the 874. >> Yes. >> So, since we had this, since the board looked at this last, I've spoken with somebody who told me he presented himself as an engineer, >> and he said he didn't think that that What am I going to call it? It's the
022patio, the deck, the big cement. Yeah, loading dock. Sorry. >> He said he didn't think the loading dock was urgent. >> Um, you're not an engineer, but you hire people who are, and they've told you this is something that needs to happen. >> Yeah. So, my primary contact is Rich Clevette, the director of facilities, and I I trust his his recommendation on this. I will say I think it was a few years ago that they actually the loading um I'm happy to take a field trip with anyone if you if you want to go see it. Um but it's actually not solid concrete down to the ground. It's a concrete slab that is now um held up by like reinforced scaffolding. >> So you can actually look if you go into the dumpsters and see
023that it's like held up by this scaffolding which was an interim measure put in place to support it. But I don't know that the expectancy was forever. >> So it's not a big cuz I mean when when I look at it I know that I've looked at it before and I'm pretty sure it's cement on the loading dock top and then cement on the side. >> Yes, it does look. And so you look like a big cement block. >> You go to the dumpsters and it is not. There was a >> Oh, the dumpster's on the far side of the loading dock from Route 10 >> and it's hollow. >> Yeah, right. And you can see it's it's a chainlink fence. Um, apparently at some point there was a discussion about like turning that space
024into a classroom underneath or a usable space that never materialized. So >> I guess storage. I don't know about a classroom. >> That was a very long time ago, but that's that has not happened. So that's where we are. But >> that parking lot is also our pool. >> Yes. So that is a So there's the >> Apple. Yes. Yeah. And it be there's also drainage issues. I think the challenge last year was this came off as like, oh, you're trying to expand the parking. Um, it would reroute parking, but there are a lot of drainage issues with this specific part of the parking lot as well along with >> So, I think I think one of the things we need to do if this makes it through the council again is make sure that
025it's the loading dock because it when it came referendum, it looked like we were going to redo the parking lot. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And and me and British have talked about what's the way to frame this in a way that like it's the safety is is the the highlight versus a convenience or parking. >> Has anyone do you have you ever seen pictures of the flooding that you're talking about? >> Yes. >> Can we get those pictures? >> Yes. >> Because I think that would be helpful. >> Yeah. And I would say there's um >> that's the entrance of there are some locker rooms entrance like >> Oh god, they probably stairs. Do they fly? Yes. The stairs right next to it, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Did the locker room flood when it
026when I when I park? No. That's good. >> It's like where Rebecca Daddy's parking spot always was. You could park your car and if it like really pours rain, you'd be getting out into a puddle this this deep, >> but it doesn't get into the >> It's got enough of a lip there basically. Yeah. Oh, wow. >> The sewers used to back up, but not the uh >> the Norton sewers back up too. >> That was a That was an annual thing. Yes, >> it was an annual thing down in that locker room. >> Fun times. >> Yes. >> Um, okay. So, yeah, I think the uh with regard to the parking lot, I agree with you, Mark, on that. I think it's uh what I heard from a number of people was it was
027>> south parking lot is fine. >> Yeah, it's anything. Exactly. Is it adding parking spaces? do you really need to repave because parking lots and driveways don't >> they're not typically urgent expenses >> to repave. Um uh >> to that point too um as part of the description, I know there was a request in general when referendums are out that the price tag be the description be more like you know terms that the typical citizen can understand and also the cost implication on taxes. So, >> I mean, I think it's I think that's a fair thing to do. If we can't do it legally, we can't do it legally. But I'm not sure about that. I just know that's what I was always told. The bond council sets it. It's not the board or anything
028like that. And it's not even our attorney. It's >> bond council, which is outsourced by the town of >> And I don't disagree. There should be some transparency there and what they're voting for and how much it would potentially, you know, impact their bucket. >> Yep. So, >> the only the only question I have on that is literally when that ballot Yeah. like as it expands it just too much. >> That could also end up being overwhelming. >> But I I mean generally yeah I think it it makes a lot more sense to have that information maybe if nothing else than like on that the 8 and 1 half by 11 the green or yellow sheet we get a vault >> something like that even if it's not on the ballot where people are voting
029>> just an early awareness I feel like that's >> goes home. >> Yeah. >> Clearly happened this past referendum is that there wasn't enough sufficient information. There was a lot of information just not digestible in a very short amount of time and then they had to go to the polls and actually make a decision. So those are just some things that came out. >> Yeah. Okay. Going a little bit more. Go. >> Um Norton power equipment $100,000. >> Yes. >> What is the power equipment? >> So I have let me see. >> And just sort of talking about buying their own mowers and stuff, right? >> Yeah. It's mowers, snowb blowers, walkbehind blowers, battery powered backpack blower. I can get you more information on those. >> I feel like this is part of NextGen building
030community already. So, >> yeah. And these are we had this discussion. Yes. >> Yes. So, I would say these are placeholders if it's not approved at NextGen. >> I guess the question would be why would it not be approved? Is this is part of their decision making to make sure that the schools, the new schools are well equipped with >> necessary supplies. I agree. >> Okay. >> So, I have a a separate question even beyond that. Do you um >> does the town ever have access equipment and then they end up do we ever share with the town? Not just staff but actual equipment as well. >> That's a great question in terms of what sharing is happening. >> At times the parks department does do the fields. Well, here's So, I'm going to put
031I take it from a slightly different perspective. >> You have a mechanic. They have a mechanic. Their mechanic doesn't know anything about a lawn mower. They're great at public course dump trucks and snow plows, but they don't necessarily know lawnmowers, commercial lawnmowers. school board doesn't have to deal with the snow plows, but your mechanic is great at um at the lawnmowers, fixing them, >> then just sort of getting extra like couple years out of some of that equipment that may not be of particular use to the town. That's I guess what I'm wondering about. >> Yeah. >> And I don't you don't have the answer right now, but just generally to be aware of that. And just to go to to your um point, Mark, like there are agreements in place, especially as we talk
032about ball fields versus mowing the grass. Like the parks and wreck generally takes care of like the infield and we take care of the outfield and then the the remainder of the the grounds, >> right? >> Yeah. I don't know if we have John, do we have the the the machine for the infield in the schools? >> Yes, >> we do. for for like baseball, softball and field. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So, uh especially at at the high school, we do >> all our own fields. >> Okay. >> Um and uh in terms of the other schools, it's we we cut all the all the grass. We do we do the Dodd fields for Dodd's games, >> but then the other infields we do not. >> Thank you. So, I think um I'm gonna
033skip turf for right now and just >> go back to the parking lot for one second, which is Yeah, we if that is to go back to referendum, it needs a very different approach to it. >> Yeah. Um, >> and what I can do with that is for the next time we meet, just have some few samples and so you all can give feedback on on what makes sense and you know what we need to edit so that you know it's it's more understandable and palatable. >> Yeah, the south parking lot you're talking about the one right next to the school and I think the rest of the town is thinking the main lot. >> Yeah. Okay. The visuals. >> Yeah. The name of it just because I Yeah, I got beat up a bit
034for that one. The parking lot. >> Did it say the loading dock before last year? >> I don't recall saying loading. >> I have to look. I I switched the language in here um a bit and I switched the description. I I don't know that it's it's much better, but I tried to frontload some like the safety versus the parking. I think there was a big emphasis on parking last year is the feedback that I received and it was true. Um, >> but it's I'll just say from my perspective, what I recall from the discussions last year in my mind, and I'm not saying this is right or the way it was presented, but in my mind, I was focused on the loading dock >> and the parking lot was sort of an accessory to
035the key piece there being the loading dock. Mhm. >> And I know that you had said or been whoever had said about the flooding there, but truthfully I look at it, I'm like, if it's flooding there now and the impervious surfaces have not expanded, that flooding has been there for 50 years and we've always lived with it. And I'm not saying that that's great to do. But that's not something that I was really uh capturing in my support of it. Mhm. >> My support was honestly it was probably like just about 100% for the loading dock >> and the parking was more of an afterthought. >> Like we're in there, we've got the construction equipment, we can make some improvements, let's do that. >> Yes. >> Uh but yeah, so that was that's on me.
036>> But there there was also a question of can you separate if the concern is the safety, can you separate the loading dock from the parking? Um, and you could do the project separately, but it would end up being more expensive. And either way, it would still need referendum. Like you'd end up spending more money and like we couldn't get this accomplished without hitting the referendum threshold. >> So the loaded docks over 500 because it's 874. So do they both become over 500 if you do it separately? Just generally? >> Yes. That's the issue is is because they're they're so interrelated um that it just becomes a really costly project to do them separately. >> Okay. And then same thing for the the barnum storage equipment and power too. That all gets clumped into the
037next gym conversation. >> Yes. As well. >> Yes. So those four items. So there's the two at Norton that are highlighted in yellow, the storage building and power equipment. You'll see that those um the dollar values for Norton are 125 and 100. So a little more for the power equipment. And then the last two items, Barnum for the storage building and power equipment are 125 and 45. So a little bit less, but So, you have two garages for Cheshire High School. >> No, we actually um >> there's a facilities garage description. >> Yeah, I don't know why this got se these got separated, but there's those three items where it says facility services. This is all the maintenance garage which is behind the high school, right? >> All related. So, um a renovation project, the
038um snow removal equipment would just be housed there and ground maintenance and repair. And there are um there's a renovation piece. Um but there's also a code compliance piece, 50,000 and 35,000. Um we've separated those for the purpose of this capital project, but like effectively like code compliance, that's that's the category. Um, but those together. >> I was going to say you you do that it has satisfies both categories. Yep. >> Either way, you know. >> Yeah. >> I don't think so. I'm just going to say I was yelling at council leadership about the turf and sending it out last year and I look I feel just as stupid about the parking lot and the loading dock because if we're going back out that's on me on the board collectively because we did ask for
039that. Mhm. >> So anyway, I still feel >> but I don't think we recognize that the interpretation would be strictly the parking lot. >> Yeah. No, I honestly like all I focus on was the loading dock, but I mean it's >> Yeah. Anyway, I'm just saying that like >> I don't want to point the finger at other people and not point the finger at myself when I feel like I I did that was a mess up. uh at least if if nothing else than simply in the communication of explaining it was the loading dock which really was my concern like that's what the referendum should have said right >> and then people could have looked at him and like oh yeah that is actually a little bit rather than parking lot which is like >>
040right >> and I think if we could get the word out that there that's not a solid concrete slab >> it's on scaffold >> some pictures >> I'll make sure to get pictures of those so two things I'll make note of for um next time is like framing some referendum items and just being really clear with you all about which of these items would need to go to referendum because that might impact your um desire to approve things in year one versus year two. You know that this is a challenge that we had last year was the loading dock went against the turf and there were a lot of referendum items and it was overwhelming to voters. So, you know, what is the strategy going into this next year? Just one thing to keep in
041mind for me is like um literally I mean I don't see how we would even have any good idea of what will end up going out to referendum because regardless of what's in last year's year 2 capital plan if we end up with like a flood in April, we could easily we could easily have bridges that get blown out in town that each are individual projects that cost more than half a million dollars. like just events that occur um could end up being like far more urgent than the loading dock or the turf or anything like that. You could easily and we could easily end up with seven or eight items that are all deemed urgent in some way just depending on what happens. I mean I I don't know what I don't know what
042year two was a year ago, >> but things could change. A bridge easily cost them more than half a million dollars and they have they do get flooded out sometimes because they're hitting they're getting to that age then you get a flood and it's just like >> in that respect is there no contingency insurance for such like emergency situations. >> I will look into that because if you're bonding for specific projects I don't know that that can be reallocated even in the the event of an emergency. Um, so I'll check into that because I I don't I don't know if that's that has happened in the past, but I don't think say we got it approved at referendum for $ 1.5 million the turf and field. If something happened in town, I don't know that
043that money gets reallocated because I would think that if it's bonded for that, then they can't use it. >> Oh, no. I'm not talking about reallocating like turf to a bridge. I'm saying if in the month of April we have a a hurricane or whatever it is, a massive flood, you we I'm positive we've had it happen before where it just deteriorates so much the bridges that they like need to get done sooner rather than later and it's like you know what we got to just move along. >> So the risk that our project gets put in the >> back because we end up with too much too many reference. Sorry I wasn't clear about that. >> Yep. That makes sense. >> All right, wait room. >> Wait room. This is a quick one and
044then I'm gonna pass it off to Kevin. Mike, I don't know if you know how to set up that. Great. So, you brought you have a computer. >> Computer. I have a flash drive and I have my voice. So, we can get >> What do you prefer? >> Um, the the pictures don't do much other than just give some pictures on the slides. Okay. >> So, I can just speak. I would have brought more copies. Um, but I can leave this behind. But I'll go through my my speaking points and >> Cool. Great. >> Leave it to questions. I prefer questions anyway. >> Great. So, I'll do a quick wait room update and then I'll pass it off to you and um you can feel free Kevin and John to come join the table if
045you'd like. Um but the quick um >> we've set the table for >> Yeah, if you'd like. Um the quick wait room update is this was a project that is still in design. We are kind of in the final stages of figuring out um the project cost. This is a um no ask for money update because this is a prior approved capital project that we are allocating to the wake room because we have a an anonymous donor who is going to um be donating the equipment. But I just wanted to share the update that the design is almost complete. Um one thing is that we need a dedicated unit for that um that room or that space. We did not think we did not know if that was going to be the case. Um, but
046we do need a dedicated unit for air conditioning and HVAC. Um, and then the other updates, I know there were some conversations. I mentioned the floor needing to get redone, but John has told me that we actually don't need to redo the floor. >> I mean, we we would look at it, but I don't think so. So, at the time when that floor was put in, it was a top-of-the-line product that was put in specifically to protect weights. it um for when they hit the ground and things of that nature. Originally, when I first was looking, I was like, "Oh, would it be nice to put a piece of turf down for doing speed agility and then when we looked at it and someone said to me, "That's not a good idea, not for what
047you would get out of it." And then when I when I learned what that floor was um when they put it in there, which someone here probably knows more about that than me. >> Do we have any issues with mold underneath that? >> No, never. There's been people think that, but we've never had any flooding in there of any >> I just humidity in the sun. >> Yeah, I we've pulled up pieces of it. It wouldn't be a bad idea to p to take up some of it and just ensure that um rubber flooring. What do we got? >> It's the It's like the square the rubber squares that that bead down. >> Yep. >> Okay. So I think the the com what we had talked about last meeting is okay are we going to
048>> do the HVAC project and then need time to put in install the floors and the answer is no like once the HVAC project is done hopefully at the end of August then we'd be able to get the donation and have a new weight room um in the interim for athletes that need weightlifting we have I guess used the maintenance garage in the past to do weightlifting so that would be the summer 2026 plan >> so so old school >> but they're not used to air conditioning in the weight room. So, it's really no change. >> There's not an enormous number of teams using our weight room in the summer because at Cheshure High School, I I in my time, I think there's probably only been one summer when they haven't had abatement. And even
049though the weight room is kind of disconnected from the school and off of the West Gym, per law, if there's any abatement going on in the school, they they can't use the weight room. um so that they haven't haven't used it in the summer, but it would be nice to end the school year and hopefully at some point we've had to abate everything. So at some point uh to where we can use it so many times. >> Yep. Yep. >> Now this is going to be a separate HVAC system. So that'll be self-contained within the weight room itself, right? >> Yes. >> So in the future when we're doing abatement inside the school, even if it's got a separate air system, >> nope. If if you're if you are under 18, you cannot be in
050the building even if there's different >> but it's not you can't enter the building. There's no access to the building, >> but it's still part of the campus. >> Yes. >> And I would say there's you know there's a district-wide flooring that shows up a lot in our capital plan and that is what it it's abatement. It's a festive. I mean, you get new floors, but like that's part of it is >> we have a major hold on some projects because we have to abate >> the floors and if we don't have money to do that, we can't renovate a kitchen because >> Yeah. So, um anyways, uh without further ado, I'm going to pass it to Kevin at SLR. Um SLR did our first um I would say the design work and the first
051design work for the field many years ago and so familiar with the project and with that. >> All right. Oh, nice to meet you all. I'm Kevin Fuseler. I'm a senior principal landscape architect with SLR. Um, just if you don't know SLR, we were Milo and McBroom. We were acquired five years ago. Uh, so between the two companies, I'm I'm going on 20 years now with them. Um, it's been a great relationship. Um, so agenda is just a quick overview of the existing conditions. Um so previous project involvement as mentioned uh we did the the first track and field not the first but the 1994 design that was before I was there. Then I was involved in the 2011 retrofit to synthetic turf and the track replacement. And then in 2024 we did some master
052plan studies for the other fields and this facility uh the back of the high school. And then we did some follow-up site investigations and most important was a geotechnical investigation of the running track. Uh we'll talk about this project which is the track and field replacement um which involves the running track, the event areas, the synthetic turf. Um we'll talk about our current scope and schedule and then project considerations. So the existing facilities that we're talking about is the synthetic turf field. If you want me to hold these up again, this is probably the most exciting picture. Um, thank you. >> The turf field, the track, uh, the pole vault to vent area, the long jump runways and sand pits, and we added in the discus area, which I'll talk more about. >> Could you
053just hold it up for a second? All right. >> Orient yourself. >> The football field, the track is >> and I'll make this PDF available. >> See, it's the long the long jumps over there. I didn't >> Yeah, there's a dual long jump. The full volts hidden down here. B represents the whole track, the high jump event area and then the distance gauge. >> Okay. >> So the only thing we're really not talking about is the shop put to complete the whole track. It's tracking through complex. >> So this was a rendering that we prepared for the master plan concept. Ignore the numbers because that involved a lot more. Um so what we're talking about is full depth construction of the running track. Uh, and that's due to our uh, findings of the geotechnical investigation,
054a new synthetic turf multi-purpose field within the running track, a new discus uh, throwing circle and cage and new ball safety netting. >> Yeah, feel free to interrupt us. >> Full full depth. You got to rip the whole track out. >> So that track is >> not just a surface, >> right? That asphalt's 34 years old. >> It's We were impressed in 2011 when that rubber was scraped off. We had carried unit prices for crack repair and patching. Basically cutting out big areas of damage. >> Uh and there wasn't a ton. There was some. So that those were patched with concrete. You're seeing cracking again because the asphalt's drying up and shrinking. Okay. So no asphalt, you know, a roadway wouldn't obviously wouldn't last that long. But asphalt nowadays, unfortunately, is not as good as
055it was 34 years ago. So that's a whole another issue. Just uh you said the discus circle >> the discus circle and the cage are non-conforming >> to >> non-conforming to the National Federation of High School standards. Uh the circle >> isn't recessed. Um which I think you can still get away with that. >> It's got to be a lip, right? >> Usually there's a half inch lip. Yeah. >> And then you have your toe board. Maybe it wasn't installed. I stopped by today. Um but it didn't. >> It's just a concrete square. >> Yeah. The bigger problem is the net is 10 foot steel post with just a net strung between it with the post on the inside. So an aaron throw could hit that post and then ricochet back and injure the athlete.
056>> So what ends up being the post instead >> so you have an arc pole on the outside so the net hangs in and so if the discus hits the net >> there's slack. Yeah, there's slack and it doesn't ricochet back. >> Okay. Does the discus does javelin get thrown from the discus spot? >> No. >> Do you still do the javelin or is it >> Yes. >> That's further up. >> Okay. So, you're not touching any space near the javelin. >> You're not touching I guess >> field for the discus. I just >> Yeah. That throw area where the discus is. So, if if to orient you as you're coming down, you're looking at the concession stand. >> The first what we would call a practice football field or the first field there. That's
057where the discus >> the discus cage is. Got it. Okay, I see. I was thinking it was on your right hand side and you'll see that that is netted >> and right now we're grandfathered in because of with the age of the facility from when that project was last done. But um so when I had spoken to Kevin, I kind of my my big concern is >> it. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. >> This is what you know got typical. >> Yeah. No, that makes sense. I get that. Um so I'm just curious. Basically what we're talking about in terms of actual square footage sort of cuts off here and goes south for >> you're not touching the field up there. No, >> it's just you're touching E. >> Are you doing the you mentioned E,
058but I don't think you mentioned C. The long jump. >> So that wasn't re the long jump and the pole vault weren't redone in 2011. I think they just received new rubber surfacing. >> Okay. >> Um >> so you're going to do those projects. And so the only so where the javelin doesn't really matter what you said is not >> that that's newer construction. It used to be here. It was displaced when we which we also did this memorial plaza. >> Okay. So it's basically everything inside the correct >> driveway plus the discus spot. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Saving. And so as I mentioned full depth replacement was our geotechnical recommendation. and and unfortunately just because it's usually a cost savings, we determine if we can mill the asphalt and blend it into
059the existing stone. They didn't like what they found with either. It was too silty. Um it'd be too dusty. Um so this is pull out I believe 8 in the track surfacing the asphalt and then 8 in 6 to 8 in of material and put in all new >> and that recommendation. >> What's the new material? The new material is process aggregate based stone. Uh it's probably I would have to check the recommendation. It's either three or 4 inch of asphalt in two courses and then a half inch of rubber. >> It's got to be expensive. >> It adds up. >> Yeah. And you know, we're we're obviously we do the multiple projects like this a year. Design um and talking to all the contractors. We're tracking you know anything with oil produced products, urethane,
060asphalt. We're just keeping an eye on what's going on with that >> and we have been for actually much longer just because of everything else that's going on previously. >> Can I ask a question? >> Sure. >> So this is you haven't touched this but this is one thing that's been on my mind. >> So I feel this project should move forward. Mhm. >> Um, my view is I see this kind of like as a maintenance project, but it's, you've framed it, and I'm guessing you can speak to it, too, in terms of safety. So, I'm a dad. I don't use this. We didn't have it when we were in high school. >> Cinder. >> So, from a safety Well, I'm not talking about the track. I'm talking about the turf. Yeah. No, Cinder. Cinder
061worked for me. We still have Cinder on the on the uh on the linear trail. Mhm. >> From a safety perspective, because you mentioned safety, what is the safety issue with a field? And I can speculate about it, but it's not just for me, it's for people who are watching at home. >> Yeah. And and I I do have that in my discussion. Got it. So, we'll get there quickly. I'll move along. So, so that those are the components of the track portion of the project. The good thing is the drainage that we put in at the last time that remains, things of that nature. I will say I walked the track today. The track rubber is worn. It is very firm. Um, you know, better than running on asphalt or concrete, but you know,
062and it probably puts fast track numbers up, but it's not good for developing, you know, lower extremity strength. It's not giving any resilience, any bounce back. So, it it could be a safety issue as well. It's beyond its life expectancy. Um, and a new track surface is definitely in need. >> What is what is the life expectancy of a track? So track we typically say 21 years. Now that track was done but only the rubber you know in 2011. So but so to get that 21 years year seven in year 14 with that system you need to go back and spray the top with another coat of urethane mixed with the red EPDM granules. >> Yeah. >> U that's called a structural spray coat and then that comes with new markings of course. If you
063don't do that on that schedule, and I I'm pretty sure it has been done. Maybe I'm wrong. >> Once you get too far past that sevenyear, you're wearing past that red layer and now you're into the black base mat layer >> and you can't rejuvenate that. You're just it's not going to you're going, you know, I didn't measure the thickness out there, but there's no way there's a half an inch of material out there anymore. Um, so there is consideration into that cost at year seven, year 14. Now, there's other systems, they may not last 21 years, but you may not have to do anything to them during that 20 years or however many years. Uh, but the cost goes up considerably as you step up levels of track servicing. And we'll we'll we'll address
064costs a little bit too, at least previous estimates. So, the synthetic turf field, what's involved? roll up, cut up, remove the existing turf and infill materials. Uh the base remains the stone that it sits on. It just gets regraded, laser graded. We haven't selected and talked about a new synthetic turf system yet, but I know that the system out there is wellliked. Um so a similar system or different would go back in. Um we did talk about the perimeter chain link fencing and I don't think that was considered on previous discussions. um that currently and this is another code. It's not if you were to build new you need a meter from the outside of lane one to the any obstruction. So a chain link fence right now it's about 8 in. >> Um it
065can be done. It does add cost to the project. So we have just we have talked about it in in here. And then ball safety netting. Right now there's 10 foot along the high jump D zone, nothing along the other side. So, if we could, we would incorporate new ball safety netting um to protect the track from users of the field. >> How much space? We don't have any space between the stands and the fence. Do we? >> You would on the home side, you would have to do something for those stairs that people You would have to do something where you enter into the bleachers from behind like the handicap ramp. >> Okay. >> Many times they came down those stairs and stuff right the fence. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> the fence is right
066up against those stairs. There's even like a spot between the two sets of stairs. >> It's dead. Yeah, dead zone. Yeah. >> Okay. Sorry. >> So, the cost. So, when we did the 2024 master plan, which is really big picture, we did provide some costs for a much larger scale project. I did my best to extract numbers from that estimate. Now, part of my my task on this one is after this meeting kind of finish up this this new round of design into an entirely new estimate. So, don't take these this number with a grain salt because it's not 1.5 million. So, site prep, synthetic turf, the track and field reconstruction, fencing, netting, discuss gauge, discus gauge, um that's a 1.725 million. And then I put a 15, we had a 20% contingency before I
067put throwing a 15. We had 20 before I'm throwing 15% on now. So we're we're close to a $2 million project. Um now that contingency will come down with each step of design to where we get to a 5% contingency. We we like to go into any project with some constru construction contingency. Um and these numbers will all change and be refined as we develop the drawings. So our tasks that we're authorized for right now is preliminary design. So we already had a com a kickoff meeting. We're working on preliminary design plans and then that we'll end with a preliminary opinion of probable construction costs for an OPCC. What we also gave scope and fee for and but we're not authorized at this time is to go through permitting if they're going to require any.
068But we're hoping they're going to see this as a maintenance project. um permitting in 2011 was fairly fairly straightforward. Then we'll finish final design and construction documents. We'll give that final opinion on construction costs, bidding, and then construction phase services. And that's where we just serve as an administrator uh for the school during throughout construction. So >> Kevin, can I just ask what would prevent it from not being a maintenance >> project versus a the the field discharges into a water course. That was one of the things that we had to get through last time, but the last time we were converting from grass to synthetic turf that drains rapidly into the storm drain system. Um, so we're potentially in an upland review, uh, which would trigger inland wetlands. um from a a planning and
069zoning perspective if they feel like making us go for it. Um but what we always do and what I think is in our phase currently is to get the plans to a certain level and have an informal meeting. >> Okay. >> So we know >> and like that and construction phase services I think we provided an hourly not to exceed budget as needed. >> Yes. Um so project considerations key findings and this this has been our opinion we concluded that it requires a renovation as we've as I've described um the synthetic turf condition your typical synthetic turf lifespan with normal use is 10 to 12 years used to be eight projects products are getting better maintenance is a big factor use we know this is a very heavy use field this field's 15 years old
070Um, so when I went out today, I I was talking to some of the coaches out there and than some of the athletes, but you guys had a really good product. It for 15, it is one of the better looking fields. When you see a lot of black, that means you're losing a lot of fibers. Um, your infill is probably less than it should be. A lot of the rubber has filled the drain, so it's it's leaving the track. The grass blades can't hold on. Plus, they had just groomed it, I think, yesterday, which lifts all the fibers up. It's gonna give it a good presentation. I didn't really see tears or anything, but it's just it's worn out. Um, I know the school tests it for hardness every year, which is great. Uh, our
071spec requires during the life of the warranty, which was eight years, that it's tested. We say the GMAX has to be below 180. Unfortunately, ASM, the industry standards, still have it at 200. 200 is like falling and hitting your head on concrete. So we back then 11 years ago said 180. We now say 165 for eight to 10 years. Um and that it be tested every year unless you put a shock pad underneath. I don't know if you guys are familiar, but that's an added cost that are currently not in the numbers. It might be in my number uh the higher number, but that's putting a uh either a foam or like a rubber pad under the carpet. And I was explaining to one of the coaches say with that you could you could play
072on it, fall on it, and your GMAX would be 120 as long as that pad's there. So the infill can leave, could compact. Uh we always advocate for a shock pad, but the added cost is tough. Um if you ever want to check it out at Cheshure Academy, their two turf fields, same product that's on on your field, just only a couple years old with a pad underneath. Um, so I tell the coaches and athletes to check that one out. It's a great example. >> Um, >> is there a difference? >> Is it worth it? >> We only had a connection. >> It's soft because that that pad is Shaw. That the carpet is Shaw. This carpet here is Shaw. Shaw manufactures their own pad. This could be Shaw. And their pad is made of
073recycled this carpet padding. There's other pads out there that are firmer, more foamike products. Um, which I I had a bag this big. I don't know if you guys would want to see samples, but if you ever do, I'll come back and show you all the different technology that's coming. >> Is that your typ is that I hope our kids go to NFL, but if you know they do. >> So, the NFL is a tough a tough comparison. It really is. They're changing their fields every three or so years. Um, some I don't think any outdoor stadium has a pad currently. Actually, um, Tennessee because they use an organic infill. So, if you get away from rubber infill, yeah, >> you have to have a pad. That's kind of that's that was one of the
074driving factors in the industry. Um, but it's just a great idea to have. It reduced, you know, it's a piece the field's a piece of equipment, right? And it's one cause of concussions and then helmet helmets concussion. So, helmet's a piece of equipment. The player's a piece of equipment. So if you can make the field as safe as possible, you're doing at least one thing to reduce the likelihood. You're not going to elimin eliminate it, but rel reduce the likelihood of a head injury. >> Two questions. >> Yep. >> How much more is the shock bet? >> Let's just say $150 a square foot. >> How many square feet? >> Yeah, I think we're with the DZone being turf. Uh I think this is 95,000. >> So 150,000 to the project. >> Okay. And do
075you have any idea what our field is at with GMAX right now? >> Uh so we test that in August. RG uh >> so the average the average was surprisingly good. >> Yeah, I would say >> one spot hit >> somewhere like 180 field hit 180. >> But that's that's where um you're having all your lacrosse face offs. So the kids are digging in and that crumb rubber is coming out. So we addressed that >> um >> by having maintenance come in, use the electric broom, raise the fibers, and we added a bunch of crumb rubber for this year. But so we do look at the average, too. So >> because it I don't know if I put it in here. If a client came to me and said, "Oh, we we tested our 10-year-old
076field and averaged, you know, let's say with our current spec." We have put in a memo, you should shut your facility down until you rejuvenate or replace your field. And then, >> see, that's that's one of my fears is, you know, we're going to get to that point and then we're going to be standing here staring at each other saying, "What do we do now?" >> Yeah. So, how far out do we, you know, get to that point? >> That's the issue with it because the older it gets, the less predictable it's going to be because those >> you're not supposed to be able to go to a turf field, pull out the fibers, and they pull out. >> Yeah. And I I tried that a few times today, but since it was just groomed,
077it probably took care of a lot of the loose fibers. Yeah. >> And I could didn't test every spot. Just >> now doesn't by putting a pad underneath too with the way the fibers are stitched in. They're stitched in underneath there and that >> does it lock it in. Well, if you're pulling fibers, your backing's deteriorating. >> Yeah. So, but doesn't it prevent a little bit of that the pad the friction out of those? >> You know, I haven't really thought about that. No one promotes it for that reason. >> Yeah. >> Um, but yeah, it's not sitting on angular stone. So, a little definitely abrasive. It's less less abrasive if there's movement depending on the pad too. Some have like almost a felt like layer on top to hold them together. Um, none of
078them I would say are abrasive. So, yeah, that's a potential. Pads are great. And again, I can talk turf and products for hours and I'm happy to do it if you want. Um, moving on the running track again. >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. >> Oh, yeah. No. Um, so what I've heard you say is the field gets tested annually and it's a Gmax number or GMAC. I'm not >> Gmax number. >> You were saying 200's like concrete. You don't want to get above 180 or you didn't before. You prefer 165. >> So the lower the number, the softer. >> Yeah. um if we don't meet our test in August, we may not be able to use it anymore >> or >> we would we would do what we did this year for the SP. Even though
079we the field didn't fail, we still want to do the best by our kids, right? So that one area that was harder, we addressed it by bringing in more infill and doing what we could. So we it may not be this August that the field is going to completely fail, but they may say there are things that we need to address or us pro proactively for the betterment of our kids are going to do you know what we can >> for as long as you know as we can. >> I totally get that. It's I wasn't sure how this test worked like one test across the 95,000 ft or what >> it's a it's an average of 10 locations. Okay. uh gold crease, middle of the field, high use areas. Um but it's a representation
080of the whole field. Uh you know, testing has come a long way in the since the 2011. Back then GMAX was really it. Now we're really looking at a a playground testing called HICK head injury criterion where it's how high can you fall from before it's likelihood to be a a catastrophic head injury. Um so we do g that doesn't make any sense to me because when you're playing football lacrosse, you're not up in the air. some >> well again it was a playground standard so you know but it was adopted >> we in the US athletics is year a couple years behind whatever Europe and the rest of the world's doing and that was a GMX was more of like your body hitting it wasn't the cylinder's flat versus a rounded cylinder um it's
081it's just been the new standard and that's how they judge it you know certain meter height if you if you need your field certified for say FIFA then it's a certain fall height, you know. >> Okay. >> But in addition to that, there's other tests out there now that we put in our spec. They have a artificial athlete. Um they look at rotational resistance. So like your cleats go into the infill when you twist. Does it release? Like everything's compared to natural grass, right? So does it release or does it hold? And there's a certain range you want to be in. Slip, you know, the slipperiness of the field. Traction is another test. And there's a few others. >> Is that all part of the maintenance cost? We put it into our spec. We put
082it on the contractor, the turf vendor to test the field upon installation, >> certify that it's passed these tests, if not fix it, make it pass before it turns it over to the owner. Um, you can then you can either put it into the spec that they come back once a year and redo those tests or you can take it on yourself and hire there's a few sports specific labs around the country that they're flying around all the time. We either call people in Georgia or New Hampshire a couple days They they're on site helping us with whatever we we need. >> That's not what we're currently doing. We're currently doing that Jeep G, >> which is great because that only that the contract they had >> required the manufacturer to do it through the
0838-year warranty. Yeah. >> And they're doing it now here still year 15. A lot of people aren't doing that. I go to a lot of facilities that are this old or rarely are they this old. This is probably one of the oldest fields I've never seen one this old. Yeah, there's there's a few out there unfortunately, but there's some that go, "Do you GMAX test?" They're like, "Oh, we haven't done that in years." I said, "Don't." >> I said, "Don't. You're not going to pass." >> And then once once you got it pass, I'm going to give you that letter that says, "We strongly, it's our professional design opinion that this facility should should be shut down until it's rectified." >> If you are listening at home, we are not going to do that. We
084will continue to test it and make sure it's safe for our >> That's the thing, Jeff. What's the projected maintenance costs like added on beyond, you know, the 1.5 that we're looking? >> What do you pay about a,000 for GEX? >> Um, so we we are with Shaws. I believe our it's been like it's been like around 4,000 a year is our contract with them. >> Um, I have gotten some other met with somebody else recently with some different pricing, but it's it's not we're not just getting a GMAX test. So they're coming in, they're um >> they're doing >> they use like the magnets, they do the deep, they pull up any kind of metals >> more than what the equipment that came with the field like a brush and a swing. >> It's
085a bundle of services that are typically required every year. >> Correct. >> What you saw today is just our own maintenance department getting our turf field ready for spring season, which kicks off on Saturday. >> That's something you do on an annual basis. Even if you had a new one within a year, maybe two years would be doing. Some people recommend doing it very often. We we do it at least a few times a year at the high school. So, um kind of kind of take a look at the field and and ask the guys to go out and and to brush it and to do that. >> Did that $4,000 cost, I believe that's what you just said, did that include the infill that you said you had to bring out to the center
086of the field? >> They sent it to me for free because of the relationship we've had with that. Y >> So, I have a question. You mentioned natural gas and as I've been trying to say I I think this is from a maintenance perspective. Um I do think that this is important for us to do. Um but I also want to uh understand the alternatives when people ask me about it. And you mentioned natural gas. Natural gas. >> Grass. >> Sorry. >> Natural grass. >> I don't know much about natural gas. >> Um >> keeps me warm. What is the So you're talking about Gmax. Let's just use that as our measurement right now. Yeah. >> What's the Gmax? You said concrete is 200. >> So natural grass will vary. I I want to say
087and we you know we use data that we find online, but like Tampa Bay's football field is considered the best in the NFL >> For natural grass. Okay. And I think GMAX is at 135. >> Okay. >> And that's when these fields go in, we're typically if we don't have a pad, we're typically between 120 135. So they're right there. Again, the the manufacturers are trying to always evolving their systems to most mimic natural grass. >> So from a safety perspective, and I think you talked about it before in relation to the track, are you going to Were you still getting to it or maybe I missed it? From a safety perspective, one of the things we're talking about is a concussion. >> It's just a higher likelihood of a concussion when somebody gets tackled.
088Is that a way to put it? um when their head hits the field if the GMAX is high. >> Yeah. Because it also so one in five concussions are caused by the field, but one in two in five really are because head-to-head two players hit, get a concussion and then get a secondary when they go down. >> Got it. >> You know, so >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> It's tough when injury statistics are, you know, and what you hear is it's all over the place. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's complicated. And you know, the the argument that this is less safe than natural grass, it's just there's really no data to support that, that it's pretty much even. >> And Kevin, I know you we briefly talked about this when we met before, but like the
089amount of play time you get from a natural grass field, >> that's the biggest cost. >> Yeah, >> natural grass, no matter how well you build it, how well you maintain it, it's a living organism. It can only take so much abuse. So, we just were involved in a hybrid uh installation over at CHO Rosemary Hall. And that's they build a million-dollar natural grass field because it's got to have sand under it and drainage and and all this. And then these robot machines go and stitch thousands and thousands and thousands of miles of synthetic fiber into the they puncture it into the grass. Grass is up here. The stitch is here and goes about 8 inches into the ground. Eventually, the root zone of the grass intertwines with those fibers and it just becomes very
090durable. That said, 25 hours a week is what we'd recommend for use. And whether it's stitched or not, it's going to still look a little better than a regular grass field, but you you still can't overuse grass. And if it's wet, saturated, use compacts the the soils and you're looking at replacement, you know, few years down the road, the grass won't grow. >> Okay. Okay. So, you just just in terms of services, you mentioned 25 hours per week. >> 20 to 25 hours is what's recommended. We know that's not the reality >> For natural grass at a high school, >> I just want to put this into annual numbers. 20 time 50 to keep it simple is 1,000 hours of use per year for natural grass. What do we get out of a turf field?
091>> Unlimited if you want. >> Yeah. It would be hard for me to give you the like exact numbers, but but when we we have like in the fall, we used to have across the street, but we would have a practice. We would have a 3 to 4:30 practice. This is without games, a 4:30 to 6:00 practice, a 6:00 to 7:30 practice, and a 7:30 to 9 practice. So, I would say um if you said six hours uh a day for six days a week is probably what you're getting. You're getting about 36 hours a week. >> Okay. So, that that could easily be an additional 50% of the 50% more time. >> And that's not counting putting like when we put youth out there. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And and the other I
092don't know if you're comfortable saying it so I don't want to put you on the spot. One company that I've talked to said if we were going to go back to grass, they said to get rid of that, remediate the base underneath it, put grass down, however we did it, sad would be they think $3 million and we would get a third of the use. That was the number I was given to I don't >> I wouldn't. >> Is it going to be more than half a million dollars? >> Yes. >> Okay, that's a key question. >> I was going to say I was going to say we've never done it. We've been asked the question to >> retroactively go back to grass, but like like you said, you know, you got still got to
093remove the carpet. Now you got to remove all the stone underneath. >> You got to put in a soil layer. You got to put in irrigation. You know, it it adds up. There's >> no it basically gets shut down. It's not like going back to grass is a more cost effective >> option. If you had unlimited fields and you every sport had their own grass field and their own practice facility, that'd be great. But >> you even should rest a field, you know, rotate and absolutely take season off. >> That be wonderful. >> I think we'd be the only people going in that direction in the Northeast going turf back to natural grass. >> Although as a soccer mom, grass is preferred. >> Yeah. Oh, absolutely. like just >> I prefer a nice grass field
094myself, but you know, so it's not >> we understand that completely and we design plenty of natural grass fields. It's just to do it right. They're expensive, too. And then it's the biggest point is the use. >> The only school I know do it's North Haven. They play five games a year on it. That's it. >> And right next to it, they have two giant turf fields for everything else that they do. >> So I most of the talking points I I hit already uh we've talked about. So I jump past that. The last slide I threw this in was just um procurement options when it comes time. So typically we do a traditional bid build um you know so we will take our project drawings and specs put it out on the street with
095the town purchasing or school purchasing. Um but it just it it sort of limits the control on you know specialty materials like the synthetic turf and track. So if you know we we can write a specification but we have to make sure minimum three companies can meet it right. All these the companies we work with and we um uh you know are acceptable products. They all have their baseline of products but then they all have something unique at least one thing you know that makes them different that makes them special something they patent. Um, so if that was, you know, a big desire to get, you know, we want the field the Dallas Cowboys have or, you know, we want this field, but only one company can make that product, you can go cooperative purchasing
096um in Connecticut where you solicit quotes for construction and materials from the preferred vendor. Uh, and it's they're using state negotiated prices. So, this is going through like CRE or Sourcewell. Um, not sure what else who else practices in state. This is just becoming newer, but it gives you control to get exactly what you want. Um, and um, that goes for track and turf and it speeds up the process a little bit. Um, you know, usually our bidding window, four weeks to bid it, uh, where you're having a pre- bid meeting, we're issuing agenda, responding to questions, then it you review all the bids, make a recommendation, award it. With the procurement, if there's one specific thing, they send you a quote. There's really no negotiating. You just make sure it has everything you want,
097sign it, you're done. So, that price, the one thing is with the the traditional bid, um, you're putting contractors or vendors against each other, so they're sharpening their pencils most likely. You hope the cooperative is a set price. >> Thank you. >> So, you don't know if you're getting their best price or it's just that's the price. But that that's you know obviously we have to have a project we have to get out into multiple phases of design. Um so just a thought. >> So I'm sure I mentioned this before but when we did the field down there we higher level product same company put a field in at Cheshure Academy. Same year we replaced ours at the academy four years ago. We're in year four on that field and you know they went in
098at the same time. >> Yes. >> So I know thank you Kevin for joining us. I know we've got a board meeting to make at 7:30 but you know if we have questions for him um I can make sure to get them >> to you all. >> The office is right up the road. So, I know you're you're kind of finalizing some some items, but I think especially if there are questions about specific components of this plan that we want adjusted. Like I said, I put a placeholder of 1.5 million. What Kevin has shared today is a little bit north of that, >> but again, that hasn't been revisited in two years, and it it will be broken down in much more detail than we did at master plan level. >> Yep. >> You know,
099I mean, costs have gone up though, haven't costs gone up, too. And we we track that all the time. I'm, you know, I started a project last week. I was on the phone with track surfacing guys, got the quote, you know, what it was last week. >> Yeah. >> And we put escalation and inflation, all that stuff into a >> We don't usually share the detailed breakdowns. We usually do a summary just to keep it a little bigger picture. >> Right. >> So, what's next then? >> So, what's next is um I'm going to share this. I've shared the presentation with you. I need to share all the capital plans so you have them. um we'll plan to meet next month um to talk about the capital plan but also the turf again. So I
100think in the interim getting questions to Kevin um as he's going through we can kind of make a final plan for what we you know the number that will go in the capital plan and when we meet next we'll kind of try to finalize what's in year one for the capital plan. >> Okay. Is there a deadline you'd like to meet? I guess my followup question >> to have the capital plan good to go and and recommended by the planning committee. I I would like it by end of April. We could do that so that we can present it to the board of ed in May. Um and then it's kind of good to go >> for June or July, whenever it gets sound. >> Yes. >> Um so I'm gonna jump back to the
101parking lot and loading dock. I personally would like to see those two different numbers if you have an estimate for it. >> Okay. >> Um because I it's like I was saying before just as I'm thinking about it more sitting here uh I think doing the parking lot based on what you'd said and the pictures that you're going to share it may very well make sense. But uh I really I'm just thinking back to last November and the comments I got from people and when I saw it on the when I saw it on the referendum was like with a parking lot. I was just thinking about the loading dock. >> Um and I do think the loading dock uh the loading dock probably would have a little bit more I suspect it would probably
102get a little bit more support than a parking lot. There's something there. there's a structure that is unsound from what you're saying or will be unound in the near future. Whereas the parking lot, ever talking about it being unound, I just feel like that's a difficult pitch because the flooding has been there, I don't see why it would have changed for decades. So, >> but I do worry that we have the potential of moving two items for referendum if we're talking about data, >> right? I think that's part of the discussion is what what is the strategy for how many referendum next year and this year >> and we already just experienced the competing interest of last referendum cycle. So I guess >> let's table that for sure. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And that's all
103I have for you. I have some followup and thank you Kevin for joining us and John. >> Does anyone want the one hard? >> I have the digital. Thank you. >> Let me see it if nobody else is. It's again it's like that picture just on every slide to fill. >> Thank you. >> At home has questions. >> Yes. >> At home has questions for us prior to test meeting. >> Yeah. >> Please send them our way. >> Okay. >> Contact us. >> Yeah. Sure. >> Um motion to adjourn. >> All in favor? I >> we are a jured.