Operations director outlines facilities upgrades, energy plan and tiny-home workforce housing

Scott Morton, the district's director of operations, told the Canyon City Schools board on Dec. 8 that maintenance crews and contractors are working across the district on repairs and new construction while the operations team pursues cost-saving and safety improvements.

Morton outlined routine maintenance (HVAC, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, welding), grounds work and fleet management, and described major projects under way: sidewalk and electrical panel upgrades at the high school, an academic wing that has opened, a counseling and administration suite under construction, and stadium upgrades that include trenches for a new fire line and hydrants. "The academic wing opened, and it's gorgeous," Morton said during his presentation.

Why it matters: the board was presented with concrete, near-term work and an energy contract that the operations director said will reduce long-term operating costs, potentially freeing dollars for classrooms and other district priorities.

Morton said the district is entering measurement-and-verification work with Schneider as part of a three-year guaranteed-savings plan. "We will get $6,700,000 total savings over the 20 years," he said. He said Schneider will audit bills, run a plug audit the district already completed over Thanksgiving, and return with reports and recommendations.

Morton also described site-specific issues: survey work at McKinley uncovered an alley right-of-way that runs through the lot; the district sent certified letters, posted notices and met with planning and zoning on Dec. 3, and Morton said a county commissioners meeting on Jan. 13 is expected to resolve the registration.

On workforce housing, Morton said Phase 2 includes two additional tiny homes; one unit was nearly ready to move into that month. He named the models discussed in the presentation: a roughly 600-square-foot single-bedroom "bristlecone" model and an 852-square-foot "Aspen" model.

Morton credited local architects, contractors and vendors for progress, naming Wold Architects & Engineers and local partners among those involved, and said the district is pursuing state-approved pricing and bulk purchases where possible to stretch resources. He described coordination with local utilities and sanitation providers (he cited Fremont Sanitation District and Black Hills Energy) and said staff are negotiating for better trash service pricing after recent market changes.

Board members asked whether the district expects significant increases after a recent vendor consolidation; a board member said the company Apex had raised many local rates 25—20 percent, and Morton replied that the district's account was currently being maintained at its prior price while the district works to negotiate lower rates and evaluate alternatives.

Morton also described a range of smaller projects (gym floor coatings, cafeteria refinish scheduled for winter break, playground and irrigation repairs, and replacement of cabinetry and restroom counters) and ongoing efforts to cross-train staff so the operations department does not rely on single individuals for specialized tasks.

What comes next: Schneider will complete measurement-and-verification work and present findings; the county commissioners will consider the McKinley alley issue on Jan. 13; work on stadium, counseling/admin and other projects will continue into 2026.

"I'm always happy to come and do an update on what we're doing in operations," Morton said at the start of his presentation.