VIENNA — The track renovation project at Maries R-1 School is progressing well with the track concrete reaching its 21-day cure mark last week. Moving forward, the remaining work to the surface of the track is to apply the all-weather rubberized surface. This is expected to be done very soon.

Other improvements at the track include improving and extending the concrete work on the access road, new fencing, and new bleachers.

The Maries R-1 School Board, at a special meeting Sept. 18, approved the concrete bid from Reese Construction for $165,561.94 for the service road and track sidewalks from Highway 42 to the ag door. At the regular September board meeting, the board members discussed extending the concrete road all the way south beside the track and ending at where the buses are parked in the area behind the old library, which is now the new band room.

Superintendent Mark Parker explained these were change orders they worked out with the company. Parker said the width of the concrete on the access road is six inches. To make it stronger, instead of increasing the width to eight inches, a steel mesh reinforcement material will be added to the six inch width. Parker said its similar to rebar. This added about $5,271 to the contract. Milling the current asphalt on the access road will cost $3,400 and the company was there doing just that early last week. The total added to the contract with improving and extending the road is $44,537.84.

At the board’s regular meeting, board member Mike Kleffner said he didn’t want to stop at the edge of building with the road, saying if the company would come back at a later date to extend the road on past the building to the parking lot, they might tear up what already had been done. Board Vice President Penny Schoene asked if they had the money to do it. Parker said they did because they’d saved about $50,000 on the band room renovation and they saved $80,000 by receiving a grant to help pay for the security/safety upgrades.

Parker gave a construction update at the meeting, saying the band room is 100 percent complete. Band Director Ray Spiller has moved into the space and the band class is meeting there.

Most of the track drainage work is complete, except for the north end. The asphalt is compete as is the track cement work. The sand pits are filled. Board President Vicki Bade asked if these would be covered and Parker said they have mats and covers. There will be a fence around the discus pits.

Some of the finishing work includes top soil brought in and mixed into the existing soil, which is mostly clay. This will promote better coverage with grass. They will be seeding in grading and then will return to do the top spraying of the rubberized, all-weather surface and lining the track. A fence will encompass the track. People are welcomed to walk on the new track, but bikes and skate boards will not be allowed because the school district wants to keep the surface nice.

Board member David Long said he would like to see some repairs or replacement of the fence at the propane tank area as it looks the same as it did when he graduated in 1993. Parker said he wants to do the sidewalks and track fence first, then will move on to that area.

New bleachers are part of the project as well. Parker said he would like to purchase six sections of bleachers to go alongside the track by the access road. Each section is 15 feet of aluminum bleachers with four rows. They will be set on gravel. The bleachers will hold about 120 to 140 people. People who donate toward the project will be recognized.

He had two bleacher estimates and recommended the board approve the one from Sightlines Athletic Facilities for $7,621. An area business, Fairground Chevrolet, would like to donate the cost of one section of bleachers. He also had a bid of $10,840 from Belson Outdoor.

Parker said they also will replace the garage door of the ag area because it is old and in poor condition.