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Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2015 4:29 pm
By Mary Meaux The News staff writer
PORT NECHES — A one-quarter section of a fairly new parking lot near Port Neches-Groves High School will be the site of the school’s multi-purpose facility.
The facility, which will include a 35-yard field inside, will be a metal structure with roll-up doors but no plumbing and be located at Park Street and Avenue G.
Trustees with the school district approved both the design and the location during a recent meeting but not without much discussion and an awkward pause prior to approving the location.
Dohn LaBiche with LaBiche Architectural Group, whom was hired for architectural/engineering services, provided information about the facility and answered questions regarding size, design and location during the recent meeting.
“Is this the very same one (design) you showed us the first time,” Board Vice-president Lana Parker asked when looking at the design for the 35-yard facility.
LaBiche said yes, this is the same design which meets all criteria from the proposal given to the firm and with the exact same components.
Rusty Brittain, trustee, brought forth another set of questions.
“I think the perception is that it would be a 50-yard field then we talked about the other size and about the money,” Brittain said.
A facility sized at 35 yards comes in with the cost of $30 per square foot for a total of about $536,975. A 50 yard sized facility would cost between $35 to $45 per square foot to construct for a cost range of $1,277,885 to $1,642,995.
Last year two individuals along with the Athletic Booster Club pitched in about $370,000 toward the project and the district threw in $150,000. More donations came in and now $570,000 is allocated toward the project.
Brittain said, in a later interview, he didn’t think it would be fair to the donors to hold on to the booster club’s money until more money was raised for a larger facility.
The width of the field would not be regular sized, LaBiche further explained. Distance hash marks will be placed on the field and Athletic Director Coach Brandon Faircloth signed off on the layout.
“Let it be known he’s (Faircloth) satisfied with this,” Brittain said. “He’s aware of it and he’s satisfied.”
The object of contention for trustees was location. During previous board meetings several locations were discussed, one being near the field house. That location contains major water and sewer lines through the middle of the property.
Another possible location was near a residential area and would require an 8-foot fence and possibly cause noise problems.
Trustee Rodney Balsamo expressed concern regarding the use of a portion of the new parking lot.
“I am not opposed to the project but am opposed to the way is progressed or lack of progression. I think there’s a better alternate site,” Balsamo said via phone, adding that there is a better location about two blocks down the road.
During the meeting Balsamo questioned Business Manager Cheryl Hernandez about the cost of the parking lot at Park Street and Avenue G.
The parking lot was constructed with left-over bond monies and costs about $120,000. Materials were purchased by the district and labor was provided by Jefferson County Precinct 2. The county has similar agreements with other entities for street projects.
The issues of design and location were voted on by board members separately with the design of the multi-purpose facility receiving a unanimous vote with the exception of Melanie Miller who was absent.
The call for approval of the location did not go as smoothly. Board President Jim Walters presented the issue for vote and there was an 11 second pause before Brittain made the motion that was seconded about six seconds later by Trustee Darren McCutcheon. Balsamo voted against the location.
Brittain said, in a subsequent phone interview, he believed everyone was on board with constructing the facility but had had questions from the public regarding the location hence the reason for the long pause before the motion was made. Other trustees, he added, also received questions from the public as well.
Brittain’s assertion that the public had questions about the issue seems plausible as evidenced by the online PNG Indians message board.
“A 35 yard field would be a joke. 50 yards should be the minimum. Anything less, why even build it?” one person wrote.
Talks about constructing a building for athletics to use in inclement weather has been ongoing for several years with Athletic Director Coach Brandon Faircloth bringing the issue to approximately 1,300 PNG football season ticket holders. Many fans expressed excitement at the thought of what, at that time, was hoped to be a 50-yard field facility.
Now, after much discussion and the board’s final votes, the project can move forward.
“Our attorney is working on the fine details on the front end documents with the architect and Cheryl Hernandez. Then we will complete all necessary steps to begin the sealed proposal process,” Superintendent Rodney Cavness said.
Source: http://www.panews.com/news/local_news/pn-g-s--yard-multi-purpose-building-gets-green/article_bf25f100-b498-11e4-a1e5-9395713bd660.html?mode=story
E-mail: mary.meaux@panews.com
Twitter: MaryMeauxPANews
By Mary Meaux The News staff writer
PORT NECHES — A one-quarter section of a fairly new parking lot near Port Neches-Groves High School will be the site of the school’s multi-purpose facility.
The facility, which will include a 35-yard field inside, will be a metal structure with roll-up doors but no plumbing and be located at Park Street and Avenue G.
Trustees with the school district approved both the design and the location during a recent meeting but not without much discussion and an awkward pause prior to approving the location.
Dohn LaBiche with LaBiche Architectural Group, whom was hired for architectural/engineering services, provided information about the facility and answered questions regarding size, design and location during the recent meeting.
“Is this the very same one (design) you showed us the first time,” Board Vice-president Lana Parker asked when looking at the design for the 35-yard facility.
LaBiche said yes, this is the same design which meets all criteria from the proposal given to the firm and with the exact same components.
Rusty Brittain, trustee, brought forth another set of questions.
“I think the perception is that it would be a 50-yard field then we talked about the other size and about the money,” Brittain said.
A facility sized at 35 yards comes in with the cost of $30 per square foot for a total of about $536,975. A 50 yard sized facility would cost between $35 to $45 per square foot to construct for a cost range of $1,277,885 to $1,642,995.
Last year two individuals along with the Athletic Booster Club pitched in about $370,000 toward the project and the district threw in $150,000. More donations came in and now $570,000 is allocated toward the project.
Brittain said, in a later interview, he didn’t think it would be fair to the donors to hold on to the booster club’s money until more money was raised for a larger facility.
The width of the field would not be regular sized, LaBiche further explained. Distance hash marks will be placed on the field and Athletic Director Coach Brandon Faircloth signed off on the layout.
“Let it be known he’s (Faircloth) satisfied with this,” Brittain said. “He’s aware of it and he’s satisfied.”
The object of contention for trustees was location. During previous board meetings several locations were discussed, one being near the field house. That location contains major water and sewer lines through the middle of the property.
Another possible location was near a residential area and would require an 8-foot fence and possibly cause noise problems.
Trustee Rodney Balsamo expressed concern regarding the use of a portion of the new parking lot.
“I am not opposed to the project but am opposed to the way is progressed or lack of progression. I think there’s a better alternate site,” Balsamo said via phone, adding that there is a better location about two blocks down the road.
During the meeting Balsamo questioned Business Manager Cheryl Hernandez about the cost of the parking lot at Park Street and Avenue G.
The parking lot was constructed with left-over bond monies and costs about $120,000. Materials were purchased by the district and labor was provided by Jefferson County Precinct 2. The county has similar agreements with other entities for street projects.
The issues of design and location were voted on by board members separately with the design of the multi-purpose facility receiving a unanimous vote with the exception of Melanie Miller who was absent.
The call for approval of the location did not go as smoothly. Board President Jim Walters presented the issue for vote and there was an 11 second pause before Brittain made the motion that was seconded about six seconds later by Trustee Darren McCutcheon. Balsamo voted against the location.
Brittain said, in a subsequent phone interview, he believed everyone was on board with constructing the facility but had had questions from the public regarding the location hence the reason for the long pause before the motion was made. Other trustees, he added, also received questions from the public as well.
Brittain’s assertion that the public had questions about the issue seems plausible as evidenced by the online PNG Indians message board.
“A 35 yard field would be a joke. 50 yards should be the minimum. Anything less, why even build it?” one person wrote.
Talks about constructing a building for athletics to use in inclement weather has been ongoing for several years with Athletic Director Coach Brandon Faircloth bringing the issue to approximately 1,300 PNG football season ticket holders. Many fans expressed excitement at the thought of what, at that time, was hoped to be a 50-yard field facility.
Now, after much discussion and the board’s final votes, the project can move forward.
“Our attorney is working on the fine details on the front end documents with the architect and Cheryl Hernandez. Then we will complete all necessary steps to begin the sealed proposal process,” Superintendent Rodney Cavness said.
Source: http://www.panews.com/news/local_news/pn-g-s--yard-multi-purpose-building-gets-green/article_bf25f100-b498-11e4-a1e5-9395713bd660.html?mode=story
E-mail: mary.meaux@panews.com
Twitter: MaryMeauxPANews
