MONTICELLO - The Monticello school board must significantly increase the amount they considered for the school district's roof project, which will affect the amount requested on the April 1 referendum.
The roof costs pushed an anticipated six-year non-recurring referendum from $1.975 million to $2.415 million.
Facility Engineering did the assessment and evaluation of the district's roofing systems for future maintenance planning.
District Administrator Karen Ballin said that assessment numbers were "much, much higher than anticipated."
When it began determining district needs, the board estimated the roof project would cost $400,000. Believing that number was too high, the board lowered the amount to $150,000.
The board found out at a special meeting Wednesday night the project will cost around $517,460.
The 24-page report reviewed the conditions of different roof areas and made recommendations on repair priority for certain areas.
Board member Travis Zimmerman said the recommendations included everything needed for repair and future maintenance.
In the report, project manager Thomas Gernetzke said several areas have two or more systems in place and that by code a complete removal of these multiple systems must be completed during any roofing project.
Gernetzke said most of the existing roof systems have very low thermal insulation.
"These values are further degraded with the presence of moisture and deteriorated materials," Gernetzke said.
Gernetzke said a significant increase in thermal values would reduce the District's energy costs.
"These specifics in the report are for a 'top notch' 20-year system," Zimmerman said. "The actual cost could be lower if we decide to go with a different system, but, you get what you pay for."
"it's worth adjusting the referendum request to bring everything up to code and to have 20 years of peace with no leaks," board member Stephen Scanlan said.
Board member Tim Bruns added that "every time the roof leaks, it affects and damages the inside, which makes it more costly in the long run."
In response to the report, Ballin made a detailed map of the roof system and indicated when improvements had been made and what the costs were. This helped board members see how effective past funds were in making roof improvements.
Upon receiving the report, Ballin forwarded the numbers to Carol Wirth, managing director, and Daniel Pecanac, associate, at RBC Capital Markets, the firm that has been assisting the school board with plans for the referendum. Wirth then recalculated the referendum amount for the informational meeting that followed.
"Nothing is easy," Ballin said. "With this type of increase it brings even more information to the board members that in turn we can pass on to the members of the community. At this point, we are still gathering information."
The board will decide on the dollar amount and length of the referendum at the regular board meeting on Feb. 13. There will be another informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, in the high school band room.
The roof costs pushed an anticipated six-year non-recurring referendum from $1.975 million to $2.415 million.
Facility Engineering did the assessment and evaluation of the district's roofing systems for future maintenance planning.
District Administrator Karen Ballin said that assessment numbers were "much, much higher than anticipated."
When it began determining district needs, the board estimated the roof project would cost $400,000. Believing that number was too high, the board lowered the amount to $150,000.
The board found out at a special meeting Wednesday night the project will cost around $517,460.
The 24-page report reviewed the conditions of different roof areas and made recommendations on repair priority for certain areas.
Board member Travis Zimmerman said the recommendations included everything needed for repair and future maintenance.
In the report, project manager Thomas Gernetzke said several areas have two or more systems in place and that by code a complete removal of these multiple systems must be completed during any roofing project.
Gernetzke said most of the existing roof systems have very low thermal insulation.
"These values are further degraded with the presence of moisture and deteriorated materials," Gernetzke said.
Gernetzke said a significant increase in thermal values would reduce the District's energy costs.
"These specifics in the report are for a 'top notch' 20-year system," Zimmerman said. "The actual cost could be lower if we decide to go with a different system, but, you get what you pay for."
"it's worth adjusting the referendum request to bring everything up to code and to have 20 years of peace with no leaks," board member Stephen Scanlan said.
Board member Tim Bruns added that "every time the roof leaks, it affects and damages the inside, which makes it more costly in the long run."
In response to the report, Ballin made a detailed map of the roof system and indicated when improvements had been made and what the costs were. This helped board members see how effective past funds were in making roof improvements.
Upon receiving the report, Ballin forwarded the numbers to Carol Wirth, managing director, and Daniel Pecanac, associate, at RBC Capital Markets, the firm that has been assisting the school board with plans for the referendum. Wirth then recalculated the referendum amount for the informational meeting that followed.
"Nothing is easy," Ballin said. "With this type of increase it brings even more information to the board members that in turn we can pass on to the members of the community. At this point, we are still gathering information."
The board will decide on the dollar amount and length of the referendum at the regular board meeting on Feb. 13. There will be another informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, in the high school band room.