Blitz is on at Falls stadium Stadium prep off to ‘whirlwind’ start

In less than three weeks, the landscape east of the Oconto Falls School District office has been shaped into the bowl of a football stadium school officials say will be ready for games in the fall. RelyCo, of De Pere, was scheduled to finish earthwork this week for the 1,800-seat stadium built with $1.1 million in referendum funds approved by voters in August. “It’s been a whirlwind three weeks. They said they’d get it done, and they did,” said Jerry Moynihan, OFHS athletic director and construction manager for the project. School Board members on Monday viewed images of the construction project, with the final image on the screen stating, “To be continued.” Becks, of Norway, Michigan, is scheduled to install the irrigation system this week, and grass seeding will follow. Both projects are weather dependent. Tech ed students worked with Hillberg Electric to lay electrical conduit for the public address system, scoreboard, lights and power outlets around the track. By Thanksgiving, supports for the bleachers will be installed and the lights will be up, according to Moynihan. Bay Architects, of Green Bay, has been chosen to design the combination concession stand, press box and restrooms. Four companies submitted bids. Moynihan said design plans have not been finalized, although the facility will resemble the one built this summer by the softball fields at the high school. The board is scheduled to review bids for the latex track on Nov. 10; the cost is estimated at more than $100,000 for the nine-lane track. The sports complex is part of a $2.2 million referendum that also includes parking lot repaving at the district’s buildings and renovations of the parking lot and entrance at Abrams Elementary School. The School Board on Monday authorized the issuance and award of the long-term bond, and the financial impact for taxpayers will be $11 per $100,000 of equalized value for the first year, down from the original estimate of $24 per $100,000 of equalized value. “The timing was just right,” said Superintendent Dave Polashek, regarding the change.