Board may add track to bid even without funds for it

Even though it doesn’t have the funds to install a new track at the Port Washington High School athletic field, the Port Washington-Saukville School Board may seek bids for the work when it seeks bids for an artificial turf football field.

By bidding both projects at once, Director of Business Service Jim Froemming told the board, the district could find that it would “decrease your long-term cost of doing the project by about $100,000.”

That’s a significant savings for a track project estimated to cost between $600,000 and $700,000, he said.

But actually building the track “would only be possible with a large donation coming in,” Froemming said, unless the board decides to increase its investment in the project.

The district has already committed to using $725,000 of public money from the sale of 54 acres of district-owned land on the west side of Port Washington to fund the turf football field. That project is estimated to cost between $700,000 and $800,000, depending on the type of turf used.

If the district decides to upgrade the type of turf used, Froemming said, it could cost an additional $40,000 to $50,000 but extend the life of the field.

“Is that something the board would want to invest in?” he asked.

If the district funds don’t cover the cost of the football field, the PWSSD Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is expected to cover the balance. The group has a $100,000 pledge and about $7,000 in donations, officials have said.

The board typically doesn’t bid for projects it doesn’t have funds to complete, Froemming said, but board member Sara McCutcheon said it might be beneficial.

“Wouldn’t that give them (the foundation) information on what they need to raise?” she asked.

Board member Brian McCutcheon noted that the work would expand the facility from six lanes to eight, noting that the high school is part of a 10-team conference.

“How does that affect a track?” he asked.

High School Principal Eric Burke noted that a school needs an eight-lane facility to host the conference meet and events like sectionals.

Supt. Mike Weber cautioned the board that the matter should be discussed by the Buildings and Grounds Committee, especially since it may be less costly to do both the field and track at one time.

The committee and board are expected to meet in two weeks, he noted, so this wouldn’t significantly alter the bidding schedule.

The district expects to have the turf field in place for use this fall.

However, Froemming said, if it decides to add the track, “it might be impossible to get it done for the football season.”