Spearfish board reviews middle-school track options; committee cites estimates from $340,000 overlay to roughly $3.1 million for full turf

A committee presentation and lengthy board discussion on Monday examined options, costs and next steps for replacing the middle-school track and adding artificial turf.

An unnamed presenter who led the committee said engineering and specification work is complete and described multiple price points: a minimal two-inch asphalt overlay without fencing or sidewalks at about $340,000; a full project including track, perimeter fencing, sidewalks and a bleacher pad estimated by the presenter at roughly $1.7 million for the track alone and a committee "target" of about $2.5 million to include artificial turf. The presenter said Mammoth’s estimate for a combined track-and-turf package came in near $3.1 million. "If we could hit the mark of $2.25 million, that would be a price point where I would say let's proceed," the presenter said; she also noted Mammoth’s turf warranty information and lifecycle assumptions.

Committee members warned of subsurface conditions that increase cost: engineering reports estimate three to four feet of clay that will require over-excavation and engineered fill. Firms told the board that excavating for turf typically requires removing and replacing subgrade both for the track and field to maintain compaction, which can push the scope toward doing both projects simultaneously.

The group discussed intermediate options: doing the track now and delaying turf installation (with hydroseeding or sod in the interim) or pursuing a full build now. Several trustees said delaying risks higher costs and potential liability if the track continues to degrade. One trustee argued the district should "do it right" rather than piecemeal, citing long-term lifespan goals; another suggested finding sponsors, grants or in-kind contributions to lower net cost.

Cost breakdowns discussed included an engineering-era Bros estimate near $607,000 for a seeded/natural-field option (not including irrigation), an estimated irrigation cost (roughly $50k–$65k discussed in the meeting), a site drainage estimate of about $265,000, and potential deductions if local contractors haul away excavated dirt. Committee members said they would send finalized drawings and geotech data to other vendors such as Fisher Track, Tarkett/FieldTurf and others to solicit competitive proposals.

Trustees did not vote on the project. Next steps discussed were soliciting additional bids against the Mammoth-engineered specifications, exploring sponsorships, and returning to the board with more complete cost proposals. Several speakers emphasized that funding would come from capital outlay and warned about legal limits on moving capital outlay to general fund uses.