Local News

August 30, 2007

Wahkiakum School District’s board of directors discussed how to dismantle the Old Gym when the board met August 22.
The district hasn’t used the Old Gym for classes since the construction of the Thomas Middle School in 1992. The building had been used for storage, but a recent analysis by district staff concluded the building is unsafe for any use.
Superintendent Bob Garrett presented the board with a Hazardous Materials Survey Report on the Old Gym; a consultant surveyed the building and identified asbestos in roofing felt and duct work and lead based paint as its chief hazards.
Two Skamokawa contractors, Tim Schmitz and Beau Newman, expressed interest in demolishing the building and salvaging what wood they could.
They said they would take the building down in sections, haul the pieces to their property, and continue with demolition and salvage in a secured area.
Garrett said that when the district is ready to proceed, it will request proposals from contractors for demolishing and removal.
In other business, the board agreed to buy several pieces of maintenance equipment from Tim Abena, who has been the general contractor in the construction of new youth athletic fields adjacent to the high school. Abena offered to sell a 1989 Ford flatbed/dump truck for $6,000; a 2001 Honda four-wheeler for $5,000; a Woods Power Rake for $5,500, and a Land Pride core aerator for $2,000.
The equipment has been used on the new fields and on the high school football field and could be used elsewhere around the district in grounds maintenance, Garrett said.
The board voted to authorize purchase of the equipment.