Tell City‑Troy Twp School Corp board reviews auxiliary gym plans, sets early‑March bid timeline

The Tell City‑Troy Twp School Corp Board of School Trustees reviewed detailed site and building plans for an auxiliary gym at a Feb. 17 work session and heard from project presenters about permitting, utilities, circulation and procurement timelines.

Why it matters: The design and permitting choices discussed — stormwater detention, electrical service, camera and access‑control conduit, and the procurement approach for gym equipment — will affect construction cost, operating costs (including monthly utility meters) and how the school manages access and circulation during construction.

Board business began with a roll call and a brief report on student absences: a staff member said, “So about 89% attendance at the high school, about 78 at William Tell,” and noted the district had reported to the health department after attendance dropped below an 80% threshold.

Presenters from the project team described the civil design and permitting requirements and recommended standard sediment and erosion controls, noting the project disturbs more than one acre and will therefore require an IDEM erosion‑control submittal and a plan for temporary construction basins that will be converted to permanent stormwater detention. The presenters said erosion‑control measures (construction entrances, concrete washouts and skimmer devices) will be installed during work and removed at project completion.

Trustees and staff discussed landscaping and courtyard surfacing for shaded areas where grass would not thrive; board members favored low‑maintenance hardscape and potted plantings rather than turf in heavily shaded courtyard pockets. The team also walked the board through sidewalk options: a 5‑foot path shown on the drawings with an adjacent 12‑foot promenade, and a suggested alternate to widen the walking corridor to 12 feet while reducing planting strip width for circulation and ADA compliance.

Electrical service and metering emerged as a practical concern. The project currently shows a dedicated transformer, CT cabinet and meter at the gym corner and a 3‑phase distribution line crossing the property. The team noted that each meter carries a separate monthly fee and agreed to coordinate with the electric department on whether the new gym can be served from the existing 400‑amp capacity or requires an additional service. One board member summarized the concern about recurring cost as they weighed the upfront cost of trenching to reuse existing service versus the long‑term cost of a separate meter.

On security and doors, staff and the presenters recommended planning conduit and pull points for camera locations and using fob‑based access control rather than keys, citing easier revocation of electronic credentials. The team also proposed camera coverage for the northeast corner and the van lot, with a central NVR/server to support the system.

On finishes and equipment, presenters reviewed alternates (concessions, offices and interior finishes) and advised that permanently installed items be part of the general‑contractor scope while some owner‑purchased equipment (e.g., certain weight‑room items) could be procured separately to avoid GC markups. The presenters said scoreboard, goal and divider systems will be part of the contract and that local installers would be sought for the gym floor.

Signage and budget choices were discussed: the team previewed illuminated sign options and told trustees they would show $10,000, $20,000 and $30,000 examples; several trustees favored a larger, illuminated front sign and asked the team to return with cost and scale options.

Procurement timeline: the presenters recommended the district publish the project on March 3, hold a pre‑bid conference in mid‑March, accept addenda through March 26, and, if the board chooses, open bids March 31 with a recommendation by April 3 and a possible award on April 14. The Chair stated, “March 3 would be when we're planning to go out to bid,” and the team said the schedule aligns with a summer construction window and local contractor availability.

Actions at a glance: the board adopted the meeting agenda at the start of the session and, with no further business, adjourned the work session.

What’s next: The project team will refine the drawings to address trustee comments, confirm utility coordination (including meter and 3‑phase details) with the utility department, return with sign and finish options, and proceed with the recommended procurement schedule if the board approves the timeline.