Discussion about building a new football field dominated a 3 1/2 hour meeting of the Manawa School Board’s Buildings and Grounds Committee Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Community members who are willing to organize a fundraising effort were on hand to express their intentions, but said they could not proceed without the backing of the school board. From there, the discussion centered on what this backing would entail.
In the end, the committee recommended that the school board would support the development of a football field with the support of the community. It stopped short of recommending a financial commitment. The issue will go before the entire school board at its meeting Monday, Dec. 19.
The committee also recommended proceeding with a plan to turn the heat off at the old elementary school building.
The building was constructed in the early 1970s, but in 2010 the middle and elementary schools were combined into one building. Since that time, the old elementary school has been vacant and used for storage.
District Administrator Ed Dombrowski said it costs $32,000 annually to heat the vacant building. The boiler works, and the heat is set at 50 degrees, which is the lowest setting available.
The proposal that the committee recommended included turning off the heat and electricity in the building and draining all the water from the pipes and boiler. That would take place this month.
In January, the contents of the building would be made ready auction. Then in March, a salvage company would remove the remaining contents inside the building such as copper, cast iron, pipes, etc. Then the building would be left as is until a use for the property is found, or the building would be razed.
The committee also recommended moving forward with the sale of the vacant land the district owns southeast of the Manawa Middle School