LITCHFIELD -- The Litchfield School Board approved more than $1.165 million in bids Monday for the first phase of its high school facilities improvement project.
The first phase will construct a new entrance and office area. The new area will put the offices closer to the entrance than they are now, allowing the school to better monitor who comes in the building, according to Superintendent Bill Wold.
The bids went to Belair Builders Inc. of New Brighton for earthwork and demolition; Gopher State Contractors Inc. of Rice for general construction; McDowell Co. of St. Cloud for roofing and flashing; Heartland Glass Co. Inc. of Waite Park for aluminum entrances; JV Schmidt Plumbing & Heating of Alexandria for plumbing; and Stadtherr Electric Inc. of Willmar for electrical work.
The project is expected to start in the next couple weeks and should be completed by the beginning of the next school year.
It is part of a $12.5 million project to make mechanical and safety improvements at the middle and high school.
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Also at the meeting, the board gave approval to a 10.61 percent increase in the preliminary levy. The levy was set at $2,462,715.
The net tax capacity in the school district increased 13 percent from $7,745,938 in 2003 to $8,752,976 in 2004. Any increase in the levy under 13 percent would result in a decrease to the school portion of homeowners' property taxes as long as their property value didn't increase. The board will approve the final levy amount in December. It will be able to decrease that amount before the end of the year but cannot increase it.
-- Cari Quam
