Grandpa’s team Zoe Greig Despite attempts by the administration to use local sub-contractors for this summer’s school construction projects, only one local contractor was on the list when it was presented at the Staples Motley School Board meeting Monday night.

The school board had previously awarded the bid to Comstock Construction of Fergus Falls for an addition to the Motley School building and for renovation work at the Staples Motley High School gym. Work will begin as soon as school is out.

At that earlier meeting the school board asked Superintendent Mark Schmitz to encourage Comstock Construction to use local sub-contractors wherever possible.

At Monday night’s meeting Schmitz reported to the board that Comstock Construction was receptive to the idea of negotiating with local businesses. However, when the general

contractor prepared their sub-contractor list, Heritage Design and Decorating was the only local contractor. Central Building Supply was also listed as one of the material suppliers.

Representatives of Comstock Construction told the administration that the only other local bid they received was from Japke Decorating and Carpet for the same services supplied by Heritage Design and Decorating.

Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Jim Christoffersen told the board that he personally contacted several local contractor and none of them submitted bids to Comstock Construction.

“A few said they submitted bids to contractors they normally work with,” Christoffersen said.

Schmitz noted that a number of sub-contractors were at the pre-bid meeting so he was “perplexed” about why they didn’t fax bids to all the general contractors.

Christoffersen added that some of the local businesses came in to the district office to examine the specifications.

Schmitz said the district has some smaller jobs in the planning stages where local contractors would be contacted. Those include siding for the Freshwater Education District building, exterior painting at the Motley building and entry work at the high school and Staples Elementary buildings.

Those projects were reviewed briefly when the capital outlay budget was presented and approved earlier in the meeting.

To open the meeting the board heard a request from Kevin Nelson representing the basketball booster club. The club had the opportunity to participate in a fund raising project offered by Webcast America.

According to their website

www.webcast50.com, “Webcast America partners

with high schools, colleges and other organizations to broadcast events of all kinds over the Internet. We provide the technology, the expertise and the support necessary to ensure a successful webcasting program.”

Nelson said Webcast America would supply the equipment needed to digitally record high school events such as ball games and concerts, to be broadcast on their website on the internet. People who were unable to be at the event could view it on their computer at a later time.

The possiblity of simulcasting the event also exists, Nelson said, from certain locations.

A representative of the school or the booster club will be trained in the processes for the equipment’s use. Students will be trained to actually make the recordings.

The booster club will sell internet advertising around the replays of those games and concerts. Webcast America requires a $3,000 investment by the booster club. They also reserve one or two advertising spots. Once the club sells advertising to cover the initial investment, Nelson said, the rest of the profits go to the club. The contract is for one year.

Nelson said most of the coaches were in favor of the project. The music department said, because of royalty issues, recording a musical like the recent production of “Fiddler on the Roof” would not be possible. However, most other concerts could be recorded.

Some board questions and discussion were on student privacy and possible misuse of the equipment and service. However, Ken Swecker made the motion to allow the project with the caveat that permission would be withdrawn if there was any misuse. The motion was approved.

In other business the board:

o APPROVED the hiring of Chris Etzler as community education director.

o AWARDED the auditing contract to Mayer, Porter, Beinhorn & Rowe, Ltd. of Staples, even though the three-year bid was slightly higher than one provided by Larson, Allen, LLP. Discussion included the facts that the Staples business has been the auditor for many years and so is familiar with the school’s finances. Business Manager Bob Hamann said the Staples firm was extremely helpful in setting up the accounts for the OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits) program and did not bill for extra hours. Chad Longbella also noted how Mayer, Porter, Beinhorn & Rowe, Ltd., support a variety of community services including school-related events and projects.