The Westfield Washington School Board took another step to making the new Riverview Health football stadium a reality on July 1 by approving 14 bids worth $6.6 million.
In addition to the costs, Westfield Supt. Dr. Mark Keen said soft costs were estimated at $1 million – with one-third of that amount being a contingency fund.
“It’s a flat site so we’re really overestimating,” he said. “We’re reducing the costs as we go forward.”
Keen said the district needs $7.6 million to build the new community stadium without a home locker room. The settlement with INDOT provided $600,000 and the first investment from the City of Westfield of $1.5 million will come later this month. Also later this month, the district expects to close the land sale deal west of Shamrock Boulevard for $3.5 million.
“That’s $5.6 (million) of the $7.6 (million) that we need. It’ll be a month before we get working and we’ll be building in two months,” Keen said. “That’s enough money to do the field, lights and track. We can’t do anything else but that’s why we don’t need all of the money up front.”
Keen said the district has a few options to raise the remaining $2 million. Half will come from the second City of Westfield investment, which comes after development begins. The remaining $1 million could come from the sale of land east of Shamrock Boulevard, which includes the district’s administration building. Another option is to issue a general obligation bond for the amount, which would be paid by naming rights, donations and the capital campaign.
“We could easily support the $1 million without going into taxpayer money. We keep our promise (of not using taxpayer funds),” Keen said.
WWS Business Director Nick Verhoff said contracts will be issued upon financing and permit approvals.
“The money is there to pay for what we approve tonight,” he said.
Verhoff said the capital campaign has paid $100,000 for engineering fees.
“The capital campaign will continue with more names opening,” Verhoff said. “We have additional facilities to name – soccer fields, baseball and softball and the football field. Hopefully we’ll accelerate now with dirt being turned.”
Verhoff estimates the district will receive $210,000 annually from different signed agreements for naming rights.
Phil Passen of Meyer Najem Construction said the project has a 10-month schedule.
“We’ll have the football field and track available for March 1. We’ll be very close for graduation,” he said.
Keen said the football team will at least be able to practice on the field in the fall.
“It’s nice to think we could get one game in,” he said. “In all likelihood it’ll open for a track meet.”\
The breakdown
Total costs (hard and soft) for stadium bids – $7.6 million
INDOT settlement – $600,000
City of Westfield investments – $2.5 million ($1.5 million now and another $1 million when development occurs)
Sale of land west of Shamrock Boulevard – $3.5 million
Sale of land east of Shamrock Boulevard – $1 million
Sponsor donations –$165,000 annually from Riverview Health, Estridge Foundation and Sodexho.
Bid winners
The Westfield Washington School Board approved 14 bid contracts equating to $6,615,463 at the July 1 meeting. The bid package, recommended bidder and contract amount include:
Sitework and paving – Millenium – $1,028,652
Fencing – R&C Fence – $125,960
Synthetic turf – Sprinturf – $582,200
Synthetic track – Globe Asphalt – $379,800
Bleachers – Sturdisteel – $939,700
Stadium lights – Barton Electric – $168,700
Scoreboard – Daktronics – $439,553
Concrete, masonry, and general construction – Myers Construction Management – $2,032,000
Curtainwall – Hoosier Glass – $93,100
Plumbing/HVAC – Commercial Air -$269,000
Electrical – Ermco – $556,800
