MINUTES
PEKIN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION
SPECIAL MEETING
18 July 2011
5:00 P.M.
The Pekin Community High School Board of Education met on Monday, 18 July 2011, in the Superintendent’s Office located in The Holman Career and Technical Education Building of Pekin Community High School, City of Pekin, County of Tazewell.
Call to Order.
President Joe Alesandrini called the Special Meeting of the Board of Education to order at 4:57 p.m. Present were Members Joe Alesandrini, Eric Hill, Larry Howard, Carl Johnson, Paul O’Neal, and Ryan Wrigley. Also present were Assistant Superintendent Tim Ruwe, Director of Buildings and Grounds Tim Bonnette, District Architects Bruce Maxey and Lee Gerrietts, and Recording Secretary Rick White. Absent were Board Secretary Karen Hohimer, Superintendent Paula Davis, and Director of Business Operations Carla Schaefer.
Communications and Public Comments.
None.
New Business.
Change Order for the B/C Building Foundation Leak Repair Project
District Architect Lee Gerrietts explained the need to consider a change order for the B/C Building Foundation Leak Repair Project. The project includes excavating along the east wall of B/C Building to allow installation of a waterproof membrane on the foundation wall and, at the foundation’s base, a drainage system to run north and south along the building which includes a tile and drainage fill to collect water and allow it to drain away from the building. During excavation, it was discovered that the footings under both vestibules do not extend to the same depth as the foundation. Documents used by the architects to prepare for this project were supplied by the District and showed fully extended vestibule footings. Steps must be taken, said Mr. Gerrietts, to properly underpin both vestibules to prevent their collapse during excavation.
Two options have been prepared for Board consideration, Mr. Gerrietts continued. Option 1 calls for underpinning vestibule footings which will allow excavation right to the foundation walls along the entire length of the trench, without interruption. Both vestibule slabs will have to be removed, as will entrance doors and glass surrounds. The price of this alternative is $81,074.00, a figure that was adjusted from the initial anticipated amount of approximately $90,000.00. At this point, President Alesandrini noted that Superintendent Davis had completed some background work on this issue and had discovered that the District does not have a set of “as built” drawings for the building. She has asked for a replacement set. Also, the architectural firm of Healy, Bender which designed the building has provided the original change order signed by a former superintendent that allowed vestibule footings to be more shallow than the adjoining foundation. No one knows the reason for this alteration. It may have saved us about $4,000.00 then, but if Option 1 is approved by the Board, it will cost $81,000 to correct the leaking problem along this wall. Other parts of the original plan, including a three- to four-foot strip of grass along the exterior wall, were also abandoned. We have battled the leaking long enough, Mr. Alesandrini stressed. It’s time to spend the money and fix the problem.
Minutes – Board of Education
Special Meeting
18 July 2011
Page Two
Option 2, continued Mr. Gerrietts, calls for driving metal sheet piling into the ground around the periphery of both vestibules to the depth of the foundation to create a kind of “coffer dam” which would prevent collapse of the soil under the footings as excavation continued. Water lines running near the site would make this job more difficult, and gaps in the waterproof membrane to be applied to the foundation might allow water to once again invade the building. This alternative costs approximately $2,000 less than Option 1.
The Board considered both options and asked questions about a variety of issues, including plans still under study for the fire hydrant which is located in the vicinity. It was generally agreed that Option 1 alone will fully address the leak problem. Vice President O’Neal asked if the architects had considered using concrete block for footing extensions instead of poured concrete. Using block would keep heavy concrete equipment away from the edge of the trench and allow for a narrower trench width. This suggestion may be investigated, even though time is of the essence, as Member Howard pointed out. Mr. Gerrietts said the completion date for this project must be pushed into August, with everything but the asphalt work to be done by 08 August. Assistant Superintendent Ruwe asked of both vestibule entrances will be open for use as emergency exits by the time students report for Dragon Day on 19 August 2011. School cannot open without emergency exits at both locations. Both architects assured him that steps can be taken to make that possible, including using extra gravel or makeshift plywood ramps at the doors of the vestibules if asphalt work is not completed.
Motion by Howard, Second by Wrigley to Approve Change Order Option 1 for the B/C Building Foundation Leak Repair Project as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Howard, Wrigley, Hill, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer.
Adjournment
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 5:27 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
President Joe Alesandrini Secretary Karen Hohimer |
