A Green Bay firm has been selected to redevelop the Abrams School entrance.
In August, voters approved a referendum of $660,000 for redesign and construction of parking lots and entrance points at the school.
Project manager Jeff Bahling, of the Rettler Corporation, presented seven bids for the work to the School Board on April 13.
The board chose Peters Concrete Company of Green Bay, which submitted the low bid of $562,823 — $465,125 for the base project and $97,698 for the alternate project.
“We’re real excited to get going,” Bahling said. “It’s going to be a landmark of the community, so we’re trying to do a nice job.”
All traffic to the school comes in at one intersection now; the new design provides three entrance points at Main Street. Bus and vehicle traffic will be separated, resulting in a safer traffic flow.
In addition, the work will improve surface drainage and, when completed, provide five times more parking, from 30 stalls to 158.
The district bid out the project in two parts so it could limit its scope if bids came in over budget. The School Board, however, decided to proceed with both projects.
KCG Excavating Inc. of Oconto Falls was the second lowest bid at $505,620 for the base and $103,889 for the alternate, totaling $609,509.
Duame Sand and Gravel of Lena ranked third, followed by Radtke Contractors Inc. of Winneconne, IEI General Contractors of De Pere, RC Excavating Inc. of Suamico, and Barley Trucking and Excavating of Menominee, Michigan.
Area fire departments completed a training exercise at the Abrams site last month, burning down the former United Methodist Church on Main Street.
The church foundation and other debris have been removed from the site, and the basement area is being filled to prepare for the laying of asphalt.
Superintendent Dave Polashek said an unexpected discovery has slowed the project.
“We thought we would clear that site rather quickly, but there’s a line of trees and a power service laid next to those trees,” he said. “Over time, the tree roots have grown around that power service, so we need a new service put in.”
Bahling advised the School Board to be prepared for other issues, such as unforeseen soil concerns.
“I think the school should have a contingency amount for soil issues,” he said.
Another issue stems from the question of a neighboring property owner wanting access to the back of her property. An alley that allowed access to her property will be discontinued, but it was agreed that the parking lot will serve as an access instead.
Board member Stephanie Wijas asked if resources would be available for playground improvements, since the project came in under budget.
“Depending on what we find in the ground, there should be money left,” Polashek said. “We won’t know until the base is laid and drainage is looked at. But in the best case, yes, there will be resources left to do enhancements.”
The project is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 15.
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