The Wabash Community Unit School District #348 Board of Education is considering a major upgrade to the district’s bus garage, with an initial estimate putting the project at approximately 2.1 million dollars.
The board met in special session Tuesday morning at the district office, where Board President Jamie McCorkle said several long-discussed district projects were being brought before the full board for review.
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer presented preliminary plans for replacing the existing bus garage. Bleyer said the district owns enough property at the current site to construct a new facility behind the existing building, which would eventually be demolished.
The preliminary design calls for a three-bay garage, including a center bay with a maintenance pit that would allow the district mechanic to work underneath buses. Plans also include new plumbing and drainage, restrooms, an office, conference room, storage, mechanical and break rooms.
The estimated base cost is approximately 2.1 million dollars. Additional options, including bus shelters and other site improvements, could increase the price. Bleyer said construction costs appear to have leveled off, although there is no guarantee the final cost would remain at the current estimate.
Funding could include revenue from the district’s one-percent sales tax. Bleyer said about half of that revenue is currently committed to bonds used for previous athletic facility improvements, with approximately five years remaining on those bonds.
Board members expressed support for continuing to explore the project, noting the age and limitations of the existing bus garage. Bleyer cautioned that spending more than two million dollars on the facility would leave the district less financially flexible and could cause some future projects or purchases to be delayed.
No vote was taken Tuesday. Bleyer said the next step will be additional discussion by the Building and Grounds Committee, including input from bus garage employees about what the new facility actually needs. The district could also consider reducing or modifying the preliminary three-bay design.
Bleyer said any formal vote would likely come at a regular board meeting, and the project would not begin until sometime next year at the earliest.
Members of the Wabash District #348 school board look on as Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer shows them preliminary designs for a new bus garage on West 3rd Street.