Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Plans For New Emmet Gym Are Unveiled At Public Meeting

A floor plan for a new gym has been decided upon for the Emmet School District.

In a public meeting held Thursday, Dec. 12, Emmet residents let representatives from Twin Rivers Architects of Arkadelphia know in no uncertain terms they wanted the gym to face the street, as it has always done.

The basic plans will be the same as the old gym, which was burned Nov. 19, but preliminary plans have the structure being larger.

According to Bill Arey, the architect hired by the Emmet School Board, the old gym was 14,200 square feet. However, because of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the new gym will have more square footage at 15,209, with the dressing rooms on the school side of the facility and not under the bleachers.

There will be some interior changes as the visitors bleachers will be on the left side of the building, while the home fans will be seated on the right.

In addition, the coach's office will be on the visitor's side, as will an activity area for non-basketball playing students.

The plans call for six wheelchair slots in the bleachers, with 16 inch ramps allowing handicapped fans to reach their seats.

Arey's plans meet all regulations with the ADA and Arkansas State Fire Code.

The sketches he showed had the concession stand against the back wall of the basketball court in the lobby, with windows so those working the stand could see the action during slow periods in sales.

On either side of the lobby, there will be trophy cases. Restrooms will be on either side of the entrance, which will be in the middle of the front of the gym.

Arey told the crowd his drawings showed a minimum of doors, because they are energy losers and security risks. But, there will be enough exits to comply with the fire code and ADA regulations.

There will be two doors in the rear of the structure to be used as entrances for students. By doing this, the front lobby can be sealed and locked during the school day.

According to Arey, everything will be on court level, so no excavation will be needed.

He estimates the metal building can be constructed for $45 to $50 per square foot.

Dr. Gene Ross, Emmet superintendent, said the most the district can come up with is $600,000, which may mean a reduction in the square footage of the gym.

At $45 per square foot, he said, the district can pay for 13,300 square feet. The insurance, Dr. Ross added, will only pay for 11,000 square feet.

When questioned about what it would take for the facility to be able to host a regional tournament, Arey said 500 seats are required for these tournaments, along with two score clocks.

Once the public meeting ended, the Emmet School Board met in special session to decide on the plans.

Arey said it would be better for the gym to be built on a concrete slab placed on top of the ground, with the hardwood floor on the concrete. This, he said, would help cut preparation costs, especially if the county could help with the dirt work.

He said visqueen would not be used between the slab and floor to prevent sweating. Instead, a product will be used with boards linked with lap and seal joints. While this would be more costly up front, he said, it will protect the floor longer over time.

Arey also suggested leaving a bare concrete floor in the lobby and concession area, along with the space around the basketball court. By not placing any type of floor covering in these areas, he said, the district can save money.

Dr. Ross said the district can apply for an energy grant for heating and air conditioning for the gym. However, he said these items can be eliminated if the grant is not approved.

Jerry Simmons, with Twin Rivers, said a heating and air conditioning unit is needed in the concession area and lobby, but should be separate from any in the gymnasium itself. He said the building could be wired for clocks at both ends, along with a public address system, whether they are installed initially or not.

Dr. Ross said the trophy cases could also be alternatives, as the school's trophies were destroyed in the fire and cannot be replaced.

Dr. Ross said he knows the district will get $409,000 from the insurance company, and between $60,000 and $70,000 in growth money from the state. The district, he said, can borrow $100,000 from revolving loan and look for donations to help finish out the gym costs.

He said a loan of $100,000 is about all the district can afford to pay back at this time, though, if needed, it may be able to cover as much as $150,000 from the revolving loan program.

Further discussion on the plans will be made in the Emmet School Board's regular meeting on Jan. 13.