While approved bids went over and under estimated base bid price tags for Hammer Complex and Halverson Elementary School updates, the project is moving forward within budget, the Albert Lea Area Schools deputy superintendent said.

ICS Consulting project manager Dan Thompson told the school board Monday night that while the bid accepted for Hammer Complex work did come in higher than the base bid, the accepted bid added in some direct purchases — like football turf and field lighting — not calculated into the base bid but still intended to come out of the project budget. He also noted tariffs and fewer contractors bidding as reasons for a bid “slightly” higher than the original estimate.

“They are within the budget and the project is achievable with the dollars established,” Thompson said.

The $13.49 million base contract bid accepted was offered by The Joseph Co. Inc. out of Austin. The accepted bid also included on top of that $3,000 Thompson said will go toward creating a turf infield for the varsity softball team.

Rose Creek company JD Driver LTD. was the lowest bidder for the Halverson Elementary School portion of the facilities update with a bid of $2.86 million. This bid was under budget for this portion of the project, Thompson said.

Monday night’s accepted bids were the last items to go through a public bidding process, said Albert Lea Area Schools Deputy Superintendent Lori Volz. The rest will go through state contract pricing, which Volz said saves the district money through direct purchasing through the state rather than working through a general contractor.

School board member Kim Nelson said she was excited to see the facilities project come to fruition and to be part of due diligence to the taxpayers in carrying out the project with fiscal responsibility — noting the softball complex’s chain link dugouts rather than masonry dugouts for all but the varsity field, as well as chain link rather than decorative fences for all fields.

“I think people should feel good about the direction the district is going on the expenses and being aware of not maybe spending money on … things that would be perceived as extras,” Nelson said.

In other action:

• A changing of the guard after election season saw Kim Nelson, Dennis Dieser, Dave Klatt and Jill Marin sworn in to start their new terms with the school board. Ken Petersen was re-elected chairman of the board, while Dave Klatt remained vice chairman, Neal Skaar became treasurer and Jill Marin took on the role of clerk. Committees were also rearranged.

• On behalf of the administration, Superintendent Mike Funk recognized Director of Administrative Services Jim Quiram, who will leave the district after accepting a position as executive director of human resources for Prior Lake Savage Area Schools. Quiram has been with the district for over 26 years. Quiram was the first human resources director for the district.

“People talk about being able to leave a place better than they got it,” Quiram said jokingly. “I think I can actually say that, because there was no HR department when I started.”

• The district approved 2020 special election polling locations at the same nine locations it approved for 2019 special elections, and the same as the ones used in 2018 for the special election that determined the outcome for the facilities upgrades to Hammer Complex and Halverson Elementary School.