Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities And Search topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ottumwa board authorizes study of baseball/softball complex and hires Grenmeier Leader Services for superintendent search
Summary
The Ottumwa board voted to investigate conceptual design and cost estimates for a unified baseball/softball complex and selected Grenmeier Leader Services to conduct the district's superintendent search; the board also tabled a separate window-replacement bidding resolution to December.
The Ottumwa Community School District board on Monday gave staff and the facilities committee permission to move forward with conceptual design and cost estimating for a proposed unified baseball and softball complex near the Babe Ruth fields. Brandon and other committee members presented concept layouts that prioritize a central entrance, turf fields and expanded parking; the board voted to authorize further investigation and architect cost estimates.
"This is really just the layout of the complex...we're gonna be able to definitely nail down exactly where home plate is and where the pitcher's mound is" said a committee presenter, describing the concept as high level and subject to later adjustments. District staff said funding would come from a mix of district capital funds, voter-approved PPEL and potential donations; a full project estimate was not yet available but the board discussed a rough whole-project ballpark of $4–5 million for the full build, with architectural fees likely in the low‑hundreds of thousands depending on final scope.
Separately, the board considered three superintendent-search firms that each presented earlier in the meeting: Ray and Associates (Greg Batenhorst), McPherson & Jacobson (remote), and Grenmeier Leader Services. After board discussion, a motion was made and carried to hire Grenmeier Leader Services to run the search.
Art Satoff of Grenmeier Leader Services described the firm's Iowa‑focused process, mixed-stakeholder interview groups and screening tools, saying the firm emphasizes "fit" and onboarding assistance for the selected candidate. The board did not vote on contract dollar amounts in the transcript; board members said they will proceed with the selected firm and the firm will begin planning.
The board also considered a resolution to approve plans and advertise for competitive bids for window replacement at Eisenhower Elementary but voted to table that resolution until December to allow staff time to finalize cost figures.
Next steps recorded in the meeting include architect estimating and phased budgeting for the athletic complex, follow‑up scheduling and cost reporting before contract or construction approvals, and Grenmeier Leader Services starting the search process if the board proceeds with the firm.
