Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Emmet Board Changes Gym Plans

With a few minor changes, the Emmet School Board has approved a design for its new gymnasium.

Now, it's up to the architect, Bill Arey, who will be working with the Twin Rivers Architect firm of Arkadelphia, to get started on the detailed drawings.

Dr. Gene Ross, Emmet superintendent, said a crew was on the campus Thursday, Jan. 23 shooting the site.

With a little luck, Dr. Ross said, the project can be advertised for bid in another month. But, he said, when the project is let for bid will depend on how long it takes to get the drawings completed.

Then comes the real headache for the Emmet district, finding the money to pay for the new facility.

Dr. Ross said he has been working with the insurance carrier, the Arkansas Department of Education, for what's fair.

When the gym first burned on Nov. 19, 1996, Dr. Ross was initially told the district had replacement cost coverage. A few days later, he was informed the company would pay the district 10 percent over what the gym was insured for, which was $372,000. This meant the district would get $409,000.

"I hope we don't have to sue," Dr. Ross said. "But they aren't willing to work on it."

If necessary, he said, the district can afford to borrow $150,000 from the state's revolving loan program. This, hopefully, with the $409,000 from the insurance company, along with the district borrowing $50,000 against its anticipated growth, would give Emmet enough to build the gym at $45 per square foot.

Ross said it is hoped the district doesn't have to borrow anything from the revolving loan program, though.

This, he added, is the first situation the district has had where there were problems with its carrier. He said the district has submitted bills to the insurance company for plumbing which had to be rerouted from the old gym site, but has only received $500.

"We've never had any problem with them (the insurance company) in the past," Dr. Ross said, "and had no reason to think we would this time."

While it will take about $600,000 to build the new gym, Dr. Ross said this won't be enough to replace everything lost in the fire. He said donations have been made to the district, but more are needed for Emmet to be able to purchase two score clocks so it can host tournaments. Tournament play requires two clocks.

He said the district is negotiating with the insurance company to help get money for the items lost by the Parent Teacher's Association in the fire as well. According to the policy, Dr. Ross said, the insurer would pay up to $2,000 for the loss of other people's property. Then the district was told it would be $500 per claim, with the PTA considered one claim.

The PTA operated the concession stand during home games and lost all its equipment when the gym burned. Dr. Ross said the popcorn popper will probably be the organization's largest single loss.

The gym's design will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is one reason, Arey said, public facilities cost so much to build.

The new gym will be built along the same lines as the old one, with the front of the building facing the street.

The dressing rooms in Arey's design will be along the side of the gym facing the rest of the school, with the bleachers at court level. There will also be a coach's office with an area for a weight room.

The entranceway will have double doors on two sides, with the concession stand along the back wall of the gym. There will be windows along this wall to allow those working the concession stand to see the action during slow times.

Richard Stivers, Emmet coach, said he hopes they can get the new gym built by August so the team could begin practice on schedule.