North Putnam may connect to Bainbridge water

Friday, November 24, 2017

BAINBRIDGE -- As part of its High School Improvement Project, the North Putnam School Board considered connecting to the Bainbridge water main during its recent regular meeting.

Robert Hensley, president of the Bainbridge Municipal Utility Board, said that the Town of Bainbridge is willing to make the extension, but would like North Putnam Community Schools to split the cost of an engineer’s report totaling an estimated $12,000.

Although legal fees are not expected, the utility board also asked the school board to split any that might arise, with the stipulation that fees total no more than $2,000, bringing the school’s total estimated cost of the subproject to $8,000.

Hensley said the utility board had selected the Beam, Longest and Neff engineering firm to perform the report, and that there are grants and loans available to defray the cost.

The board tabled the issue until its next regular meeting Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Administration Office at 300 N. Washington St., Bainbridge.

During a special meeting in October to introduce and discuss the High School Improvement Project, the board listed correcting water filtration issues as a priority. It was also suggested that connecting to Bainbridge water may encourage residential growth in the area.

In other news related to the project, the board named the members of the Committee for Financing High School Project: Superintendent Dan Noel, School Board President Amber Greene, School Board Vice President Travis Lambermont, school board member John Hays, Attorney Dan Taylor, Treasurer Tanya Pearson, Stair Associates Engineers/Architects, H. J. Umbaugh and Associates and Ice Miller (finanicial advising).

Other priorities set for the High School Improvement Project are: HV/AC and controls throughout the building; an outside locker room with renovation of current locker room to agriculture and Project Lead the Way spaces; electrical work, including installation of a panelboard and main switch gear; and installing fire panels with new horns, strobes and sensors.

Overall, the goal is to make necessary repairs to the facility and create a “collegiate atmosphere.”

Total cost for all possible repairs and renovations, not including mechanical work, adds up to about $15 million. The board discussed only doing $10 million of the overall project, and completing it in $5 million stages.

In other news:

-- One-to-One: Brad Fischer reported that chromebooks are set to roll out in January.

-- Playing up: The board voted 5-2 against allowing sixth-grade students to play on the seventh-grade basketball team.

-- State Farm Insurance: The board approved a $500 donation from State Farm Insurance to the high school girls’ basketball program.

The North Putnam School Board’s next regular meeting is set for Thursdy, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Administration Office at 300 N. Washington St., Bainbridge.

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