Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gym Construction On Target

By JOHN MILLER

Construction on the Emmet gymnasium is coming along nicely, according to Emmet Superintendent Dr. Gene Ross.

He said the construction crews have a roof over the main part of the structure, with expectations of the entire building being enclosed this week.

Once the walls and roof are up, he said, the crews will get the inside work done. "They're on target for the Dec. 5 deadline," Dr. Ross said. "It looks like a gym now.'

However, the district is still about $150,000 short of the money it will need to pay for the construction. Dr. Ross said it will cost about $890,000 for the gym, architect fees, engineer fees and other costs.

The construction, he said, will cost $795,193, with the architect being paid 6.5 percent of this fee. The engineer is getting paid on an hourly basis while being reimbursed for mileage back and forth to Emmet.

To help overcome this shortfall, he said, the district is sending out letters asking for contributions. Dr. Ross said the Emmet Eagle Goal Club has been established for this reason.

Membership in the club will cost $500 per person. Those joining will have their names engraved on a plaque, which will then be placed in the new gym. In addition, the members will be granted lifetime free admission to all Emmet home games.

Dr. Ross said donations can be made in the form of memorials as well.

The Arkansas Department of Education, the carrier of the Emmet policy, has paid $419,200 on the school's claim for the fire.

When the fire occurred on Nov. 19, 1996, Dr. Ross was informed the district had replacement cost coverage. However, the ADE later recanted this, saying the district would be reimbursed for 20 percent over the previous construction cost.

And, he said, there have been some unexpected headaches with the construction. When the base of the original gym was removed, it was learned there was water in the ground. Dr. Ross said the crews had to dig out four feet of dirt, replace this with gravel and have it compacted. Each time the gravel was compacted, it had to be tested to be sure it met the required specifications.

The same situation occurred with the concrete having to meet specs when poured and compacted.

"It will be nice when it's finished," he said. "It will be something the people of Emmet can be proud of. It's what we and the people wanted."

Dr. Ross said the gym could have been constructed for less money, but the Emmet School Board voted not to cut anything and try to find the money elsewhere.

The new gym, Dr. Ross said, will have replacement cost coverage on its insurance policy. This, he said, is because the district changed insurance carriers, putting the gym (along with the school's other insured items) on a policy with the Arkansas School Board Association.

While the projected date of completion is Dec. 5, the district also hopes to play its first basketball game that night. The Emmet Eagles are scheduled to host the Spring Hill Bears.

The next home game after Dec. 5, according to the schedule, is Jan. 6, 1998, when the Eagles invite the Bulldogs of Delight to play.

Dr. Ross said the board will discuss when to have an official dedication at its next meeting, which should be Monday, Nov. 3.