Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Emmet May Need Other Money To Rebuild Gym

By JOHN MILLER

It may not be as easy for Emmet to build a new gymnasium as first thought.

Dr. Gene Ross, Emmet School District Superintendent, informed the Emmet School Board Monday night the school's insurance policy may not be for replacement costs as he was originally told.

Dr. Ross said the first thing he did after the fire was to look at the district's insurance policy. According to the policy, the gym was insured for $372,000.

He then contacted the district's insurer, the Department of Education, and was notified the district had replacement cost on the facility. At this point, Dr. Ross relaxed somewhat and informed the media the district had replacement cost coverage for the burned structure.

The new gym, he was first told, would have to be roughly the same size and design as the one that burned.

However, Monday morning, while talking with the ADE insurance company, Dr. Ross was told the company would pay 10 percent above the $372,000, or $409,000, to replace the gym.

Dr. Ross said he is supposed to contact the ADE again later this week to further discuss the issue and find out exactly what the coverage is.

He was told, though, the insurer will pay for debris removal, to replace the glass damaged as well as the roof burned on another building. In addition, the insurer will pay up to $500 for property owned by others lost in the fire, such as the Parent Teacher Association. The Emmet PTA lost all its concession equipment in the blaze as well.

Dr. Ross said the various fire departments will have to split $1,000 for their efforts in battling the fire, while the district will receive $8,250 for building contents.

He informed the board the insurance company will also pick up the tab of transporting students to and from practice and games.

But, the major problem is rebuilding the gym. Whatever the district does, Dr. Ross said, will depend on what the insurance

company has to say and do.

Bill Arey, an architect working with the Twin Rivers Architect firm of Arkadelphia, was on hand with some preliminary plans for a new gym.

He explained the services provided by an architect to the board, telling the panel there are five basic steps involved.

The first, Arey said, were schematic design and development -- or initial drawings of floor plans.

Arey presented a preliminary sketch to the board, which showed a design much like the burned gym. The dressing rooms were under the bleachers, with a weight room and coaches office added on the visitor's side.

The concession stand was in the same place, while the ladies restroom was enlarged to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Arey said the structure could be built, in his opinion, for $45 to $50 per square foot by constructing a metal building with a masonry exterior.

However, with this initial design, the gym lost about 64 total seats from its 496 seat capacity due to the addition of handicap access ramps.

These ramps, he said, must rise one inch for every foot in length under ADA regulations.

The preliminary sketch also included windows in the wall across from the concession stand so workers could watch the game as well during slow periods.

Arey said the important thing the board must remember is the new facility has to meet all state codes for plumbing and electricity, along with ADA regulations.

Then the discussion began. The board talked about building the entire gym on one level with dressing rooms at the back. Arey said this could be done, but the structure would have to be rotated 90 degrees so there would be space for the dressing rooms.

It was also suggested to build a gym along the line of Hope's Jones Fieldhouse, with the bleachers on ground level while the gym floor is sunken.

Still, as Dr. Ross pointed out, the district must first have an idea of the money it will receive to rebuild the gym before any firm decisions can be made.

Emmet Mayor Chuck Otwell told the board the insurance company will be looking to save money and be receptive to the plan costing it the least.

Arey suggested going with the metal building with a masonry wall. He also informed the board a standing seam metal roof would be the best way to go because it's easy to see if this type of roof has been properly installed.

In addition, this kind of roof comes with a 20 year warranty, but, he said, should last much longer.

Time is another factor Dr. Ross brought up. He said Coach Richard Stivers would like to be in a new gym by August, so the team could practice there.

He said the longer the board takes to decide what it wants, the longer it will take to build the gym. Again, though, he pointed out the problem with the insurance company and what it will be paying on the premium for a new gym.

Should the district only get the $409,000, Dr. Ross said, it could attempt to pass a bond issue or apply for a revolving loan to help pay for the kind of gym the board wants.

But, if the district gets replacement cost, it will have to follow ADE regulations on the square footage.

Arey told the board to talk about what it wants and he will design alternative plans accordingly.

Once Arey left, the board voted to hire him as the architect.

In other business, Emmet will celebrate its homecoming Dec. 12 in the cafetorium, playing the homecoming game Friday, Dec. 13, in Saratoga against the Bulldogs.

Dr. Ross said Saratoga invited Emmet to hold their homecoming there with the Saratoga district doing all the work, but the students preferred celebrating at home.

Additionally, he said, Saratoga has offered to do all the work at the game, pay the expenses and give Emmet the net gate receipts.

He said First National Bank has donated $500 to the school for its loss, while State Sen. Mike Ross paid for two pairs of shoes lost in the fire.

The board hired George and John Clary to remove the debris from the gym for $15,500, giving them 45 working days to complete the job. This is something the insurance company will pay for.

Along with removing the debris, the Clarys have offered to grade the property level afterwards.