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Liberty Hill trustees approve $83,000 contract to upgrade high school band tower for safety and instruction
Summary
After discussion about safety, cost and procurement, the board approved an up-to-$83,000 contract with D and M Metal Works to add a second instructional level, stairs and safety features to the Liberty Hill High School marching band tower, funded from the general fund fine arts allotment.
The Liberty Hill Board of Trustees voted Sept. 16 to approve planning and engineering for improvements to the Liberty Hill High School marching band tower and authorized work with D and M Metal Works in an amount not to exceed $83,000.
District staff described the existing band tower as a 20-foot structure reachable by a single-person ladder that limited instruction and posed a safety risk when wet or cold. Presenters said the upgrade would add roughly 10 feet and a second instructional platform with ascending stairs and rails so multiple staff members can teach from the tower and carry equipment safely.
"It's a safety concern," a presenter said, describing hesitation about climbing the current ladder in adverse conditions. Trustees asked whether the district had sought additional vendor quotes, whether reusing the existing tower was cost-effective versus building new, and whether alternative solutions (for example, renting or buying a battery-operated lift) had been considered.
District staff said they had explored new-build quotes earlier that were significantly higher and that building atop the existing structure was the most economical option; they also said D and M is an approved vendor who previously worked on district metal projects. Trustees asked staff to confirm bid comparisons and obtain follow-up input from the district's construction contact before final design approval.
A motion to approve the marching band tower improvements with D and M Metal Works, funded from the general fund fine arts allotment, carried after a second; the board will receive final designs and cost confirmations before additional spending if needed.
