Construction finishes on new concession building

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

The happiness the current and former members of the Bigfork Booster Club experienced Nov. 28 was a long time coming.

Smiles stretched from ear to ear on the faces of current and former booster Club members that afternoon as they got their first look at the new concession building at the Bigfork High School track and football field complex. Construction of the building began in June with the demolition of the former concession building. The prospect of the building started six years ago.

In 2000 Bigfork High School still had a rundown athletic field, old bleachers, poor lighting, a dirt track and dismal rest room facilities. The Booster Club rented portable toilets through this year.

"It obviously needs to be done," Kathy Boiteau, a former booster club member said. "It's something the entire community can use."

Boiteau, along with Patty and Vernon Smith and Bobbi Wolstein spearheaded the project even after they no longer held positions in the club.

"Our kids deserve the best," Boiteau said. "We didn't feel like we could up and leave them," she added of the new club officers. Wolstein added that the concession stand and rest room project was a project the former officers were all committed to. "We didn't want to leave it undone," she said.

Vernon will have donated between $4,000-$5,000 worth of painting services and supplies by the time spring rolls around, Russ Kinzer, Bigfork School District Superintendent estimated. Smith plans on painting the outside of the new building and older storage shed on the grounds as well. He painted the inside of the building. Kinzer added that big thank you was owed to the Booster Club for all their work on the project.

The club had hopes of having the building ready for the 2007 football season, but missed that mark by a few months. It will be functional for the spring track and field season after a few additions of shelving and landscaping.

Booster Club members previously had to prepare the food sold in the concession stand at the school and transport it to the stand to sell it. While selling food and drinks to athletes and spectators, some Booster Club members noted while they inspected the new building that the overhead roll door would sometimes slip and fall down.

"It stays up," a number of club members exclaimed of the new overhead roll door. An added bonus, according to the club members is that they can now see the majority of the field and stands from the concession building, and not just the east endzone. "I wish we would have had this five years ago," Lisa Edwards said.

The lower level of the new building will act as a weight room until a more permanent location can be secured.

"It's not just going to sit unused," BHS Activities Director Shannon Smith said of the building. "The weights can be used now during basketball games." The spacious lower-level room will still serve as a team room as well, with heat vented in as it is with the entire building.

Smith estimated the lower level to be twice the size of the stage in the high school where the weights are currently housed. He added that the new location will also be safer for students lifting weights, which will include not only student-athletes but also students in the weight lifting and speed and strength classes at the school and Viking Gym participants. A rubber floor has to be installed before the weights are moved.

When the weight room is no longer housed in the lower level, it will return to its initial plans, which include the possibility of showers. Pipes for showers and drains are visible in the room that also has a small bathroom in it.

The showers aren't the only plumbing change from the previous building. There are five stalls in the women's rest room and three in the men's. Booster Club members beamed when they saw doors on the stalls that locked and heard the toilets flush. The new bathrooms are also heated. A prep shower and sink will help club members prep for and clean up after events.

Money from the school district and student activity fees allowed Porch Construction, the sole bidder, to begin construction in June after the initial demolition and excavation by Kirt Taylor. The district gave the club $40,000. The club also received $40,000 in student activity fees.

"They worked with us on getting the cost down," Kinzer said of Porch Construction. Porch's original bid came in at $235,000 in January. The cost of the building now falls in at $214,500.

The Booster Club also received a $30,000 interim loan from Flathead Bank of Bigfork.

Coaches at the school decided they didn't want locker rooms to go into the building at this time. The building is plumbed for the possibility of locker room usage.

"There's potential to add other things in the future," Kinzer said. "It offers modern facilities on the field and will better serve the students and spectators."

The plans for the concession stand and rest rooms were put on hold after the Booster Club opened a bid they received for construction of just the shell of the building in July 2006. The incomplete bid came in at $160,000.

"The bid was reasonable," Kinzer said.

After the bid was opened, the cost of the building was increased and estimated to be $250,000, which made the club consider other options including building it in stages, working with the district and more fund-raising. The original estimate was $200,000 for the 30-by-46 foot two-level building that included plans of storage areas, locker rooms, concession stand and rest rooms. That averaged out to $75 per square foot. Plans for the building were drawn up by local architect Frank Becker. Input on the project was received from the activities director, maintenance personnel and coaches. Kinzer said discussion and planning for the project has been ongoing for several years.

The Booster Club is still accepting donations for the project. Kinzer added that the club also has a grant written to procure more funds. Members of the club said they appreciated the assistance the Bigfork community has already given them.