CTE construction progressing; arena video boards and natural gas contract reported

Kelly Kristofferson, the district business manager, gave the board an update on the district’s finances and facilities projects during the Feb. 10 meeting.

Financial status and CTE construction: Kristofferson said the district is 58% of the way through the fiscal year, with $14,791,000 collected (53% of budgeted revenue) and $14,333,000 expended (51% of budgeted expenditures). On the career and technical education (CTE) construction project, site dirt work and foundations were in progress but delayed by deep frost from January; thawing is under way and Kristofferson said the delay is not expected to put the overall schedule behind. Precast walls are scheduled to be installed in mid‑March when foundations are complete.

Arena systems and scoreboards: Kristofferson said the south wall video board and the north bowl video ribbon are installed and functional though “not connected to any scoreboard yet.” Monitors in the mezzanine and inside the bowl are operating and some concession menu boards are up. The district plans to hang the new center scoreboard and integrate it with other displays.

Natural gas contract: Kristofferson reported the district contracted natural gas for next heating season at 50.4¢ per therm for its seven largest accounts, covering approximately 212,000 therms. He noted the price is the same as the previous year and compared it to prior years’ prices; the district does not contract for smaller buildings.

Surplus property: Kristofferson said it does not currently look like the district will have enough surplus property to justify a public auction this summer.