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Mayer: Costs, site, safety issues just don’t add up
Letter To The Editor

From Steve Mayer 

Monroe

To the Editor: 

After the informational meeting on July 10 someone asked me why I wanted to build on the existing site when it costs more money, and we get less athletic fields. I have several reasons, 

1.  Safety of our students at the B&S site. I know there will be a traffic study done and the district will be directed to do what is best. The property’s main entrance is proposed to out on KK near the radio station. Our young inexperienced drivers will be subjected to be one of the dangerous maneuvers in driving. Turning left onto a rural uncontrolled 4 lane highway. This type of maneuver results in horrible accidents. One tragic accident and I’m sure we would all agree building the school there was a mistake. I’m sure it can be made safer, but will it be within our budget.

2.  I am not sold that some of the numbers being thrown around are accurate. This project has had so many changes I sometime wonder if the board and/or the contractor can adjust to all of them. The sitework costs just don’t add up. According to their flier the existing site Sitework is only $400,000 cheaper than the B&S property. They stated at the information meeting the B&S property budget includes $1.5 million in road improvements to 31st Ave, turn lanes on KK and installation of a nearly mile long driveway. No road improvements are included at the existing site such as extending 30th street, which was confirmed at the meeting. Not to mention the cost of a lift station and the expense of running your utilities and water/sewer to the middle of the B&S site, all of which are already on the existing site property. With these numbers the Existing site earthwork must surpass the B&S site. A drive by of both properties, I find this very questionable. 

3.  The B&S site is a horrible building site for a project that in the end will require a minimum of 25 acres of flat ground for athletic fields. I doubt you could currently find one acre of flat ground on the 70 acre parcel. Would much rather spend money within the school than moving rock. 

Everyone needs to do as much research as possible to feel good about the way they want the district to proceed on this project. Please get out and voice your feelings on Monday!