Mt. Pleasant School district has found new home for central office

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

The clock was ticking for the Mt. Pleasant Community School District to relocate its Central Office, and it seems a deal was inked in the nick of time.

The district?s central office currently resides in the Mt. Pleasant Civic Center, but its lease with the city is about to end without the opportunity to renew as the city plans to relocate its offices to the former high school building.

Four of the seven-member school board met Wednesday night for a special session. Board members Joy Conwell, Jennifer Crull and Dave Christensen were absent.

One of Wednesday night?s agenda items included approving a lease agreement with Property Partners, LLC. Interim Superintendent Dr. John Roederer said the district could either do a two or a three-year lease of the property. For two years, the lease would run $26,763, or $27,502 for three years. Roederer estimated the monthly utilities to be about $5,643. The district would also pay for the carpet and insulation, which will run $6,300.

?I lean towards a three-year (lease),? said board president Dave McCoid. ?Realistically we?re not going to be in the position within two years to build a central office. Even if we start at the end of two years, it would take another year to get it done.?

McCoid continued by saying that if the board agreed to a three-year lease now they would lock in those prices, whereas if they resigned the lease after two years, the prices would likely increase. ?We would probably be hit with a larger fee for the third year.?

?And I will say one thing,? Roederer added, ?moving is a pain.?

The board chuckled in agreement before authorizing McCoid to sign the three-year lease. The board did ask for clarification as to when their lease period began, either when they began installing the carpet or when the district moved into the building.

Central Office will move to 1010 East Washington St., Suite 102 ? 103, a space that is approximately 24,000 square feet.

On Monday, the board approved paying Best Move, Inc., $2,700, to move the district?s office items to its new central office. The district must be out of its current building by July 15.

Following approval of the lease agreement, the board backtracked to the main reason for the special meeting ? approving a contract with architects Shive-Hattery for the Mapleleaf Lighting Project.

The board was set to approve the contract and a resolution to tentatively approve the Mapleleaf Complex Lighting Project, plans, specifications, cost estimate and form of contract during its regular meeting on Monday, but the architect did not have the plans finalized.

On Wednesday, the board was slightly delayed, waiting on the form of contract, but officially received everything before 4 p.m.

The architect, Shive-Hattery, estimated the project cost at $261,800.

The Mt. Pleasant Athletic Boosters, who had asked for a donation from the school board to help fund the project, brought about the project during the May board meeting. However, with the group asking of upwards of $100,000, the school board felt it was best if the district spearheaded the project, forcing the district to bid out the project.

The boosters had received a quote from Musco Lighting and a local electrician for the project, which came in under the architect?s estimate, as Musco had given the booster?s club a discount as Mt. Pleasant alumni works for the lighting company. Roederer added that Musco and the local electrician would be able to bid for the project and the lowest responsible bid would have to be chosen.

Roederer said that as the architect would be doing work on district property, he felt it was only sensible the district enter into a contractual agreement with Shive-Hattery. ?If we had an issue because they were putting (a project) on our property and something wasn?t going right, it could really create a disagreement and a conflict between the school district and the booster?s club,? said Roederer of his reasoning.

Since the district is directing the project, the booster?s club has paid the district $12,300, which has been applied to Shive-Hattery?s fee.

?This is the best way to go,? said Roederer.

McCoid added by saying this would also put the district in complete control of the project, and they would be able to bow out at any time if the bids were more than the architect?s estimate.

The school board will hold a public hearing regarding the Mapleleaf Lighting Project on Tuesday, June 21, at 6 p.m., at Central Office.