Southmoreland officials say turf installation set for June; rock wall and boiler-room flooding prompt repairs

The Southmoreland School District’s buildings and grounds reports included a schedule for turf installation, an update on a deteriorating rock wall, and a plan to prevent repeated boiler-room flooding.

Committee members said field turf work will begin after school ends in June and is expected to take 16–18 business days to complete. The turf project was described as already budgeted; board members were told the work will be timed to avoid construction impacts on the playing surface.

Contractors inspecting a masonry rock wall discovered shale and previously applied mortar that has been failing. The district presented three repair options: build a block wall in front, pour a reinforced concrete wall, or remove and replace the existing stone (the latter described as potentially very costly). The district is soliciting quotes for each option and will return to the board with cost estimates before selecting a plan.

District staff also described two recent significant floods in a high-school boiler room in the last three years, with water reaching 8–12 inches on the floor in the outside area adjacent to the boiler room. Staff said the outside drains currently route back into the building path and can back up into the boiler room; the district plans to install a sump pump in the boiler-room floor, add water sensors for early warning, and have Constellation implement ditching and riprap at no charge as part of the project agreement. Initial cost estimates presented to the board for a permanent fix were described as under $10,000.

Board members were told the boiler-room electrical switchgear sits at floor level and that preventing water intrusion is a priority for safety and operational reliability. The board did not vote on a final repair contract during the meeting; staff said they will obtain quotes and return with recommendations.