At its regular Monday meeting, Superintendent Theron Schutte said the $157,600 contract is the same type of contract the district entered into for the Roundhouse.

“Unfortunately despite the recent setback with the city’s vote not to partner with us on this project, that doesn’t change the conditions of the courts and the need to move forward in trying to replace them,” Schutte told the board.

The intent is to get the design and open for bids by late February, which Schutte said is prime bidding season for such projects.

“Whether we are partnered or not, we move forward on this project starting in late April when the weather is appropriate,” he said.

The goal is to have the court complete by winter 2020 and maintain the current facility until the new tennis complex is finished.

School board member Ben Fletcher asked if there are alternates available now that the city has withdrew from the project.

Schutte mentioned possibilities such as grant applications, different plans for lighting and parking and other options that the board might consider for funding the entire project. He also said another alternate is bids that are less than what preliminary estimates call for them to be. If the bids are over what the school district is estimating then Schutte said the school board will have to make some decisions.

The superintendent said not all of the alternates have been finalized.

Mike Miller said he is in favor of moving forward with this portion of the plan.

“We have a lot of needs,” Miller said. “New tennis courts may not be at the top of the list of those needs but for the fact that we might get the city and Martha Ellen Tye to pay a large portion, it raises it close to the top of the list.”

Miller said absent the participation of the city or Martha Ellen Tye Foundation, the tennis courts fall back down the list of priorities.

“I am hopeful that tomorrow’s election changes some of the thinking on the city council about this project amongst some other ones as well and that we can go back to where we were on this,” he said.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611

or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com