By James Massara

The Buckeye Central High School football stadium will receive a major facelift after a unanimous vote by the Buckeye Central Board of Education on Monday evening.

The vote came after information was brought to the board about possible price increases from a quote received during the February board meeting.

Buckeye Central BOE hears options for potential stadium renovations

The quote of replacing the existing wooden home and visitor bleachers with aluminum bleachers and replacing the existing press box, was $349,969.

Paul Riedlinger, a representative of Dant Clayton which provided a quote for the project, told Buckeye Central Superintendent Mark Robinson that proposed tariffs by the federal government could spike the cost of aluminum and steel by seven to 10 percent, or $25,000-$35,000 added to the project.

Rieldlinger said he could lock the price in to what was quoted if the contract was accepted by the morning of March 13.

Multiple board members said, after the February meeting, they intended to wait on the project, but did not want to risk adding cost to an already pricey project.

“I looked at the bleachers and walked underneath them and the wood is getting bad,” board member Chris Martin said. “I’d hate to spend the extra $35,000 later, and if we do the aluminum, it’ll be there for many years.”

Board member Lisa Aichholz said the project was only a matter of time.

“It’s going to have to happen sooner or later, and it’s not going to be cheaper,” Aichholz said.

With a serious tone, the motion was passed by all board members.

“Nobody likes to spend money,” board member Jerome Heydinger said.

Buckeye Central Treasurer Nancy Ackerman said money had been collected in the permanent improvement fund for such a project, as school officials knew the project would happen eventually. She added that typically the project is paid for in full at the project’s completion.

Robinson said he was told the project would be expected to be completed by the start of the 2018-19 school year.

In other board business, the board accepted the resignation of Jackie Nye as middle school English and language arts teacher. Board members also accepted the resignation for retirement request from Marlene Karl, effective July 31.

“Both of them will be tremendously missed by all of us,” Robinson said.

The board next meeting is Thursday, April 12 at 7 p.m.