City of Highland to help with upgrades to Highland High School athletic facilities

It’s going to be a little bit brighter at Highland High School this year. The Highland City Council agreed on Monday to pay for new lights for the refurbished HHS tennis courts. The council also voted to give the school a baseball scoreboard.

The scoreboard will be removed from Optimist Field in Glik Park and be given to the school district for use on the junior varsity field.

In a memo to City Council members, City Manager Mark Latham said a community baseball association had raised $38,000 to purchase a new scoreboard for Glik Park, but needed an additional $17,000 to finalized the purchase. The city agreed to use money from its general fund reserves to make up the difference, as well a move the old scoreboard from Glik Park to the school.

The council also agreed to purchase lights for the high school’s tennis courts. During the city’s budget development meeting earlier this year, the council agreed to enter into a partnership with the school and Plocher Construction for upgrades to the tennis courts, which will include the lighting and a restroom, with an estimated total cost of $120,000.

In February, the School Board approved the low bid of $206,570 to Rooters Asphalt for the tennis court asphalt work. The other work for the tennis courts include a fence around the perimeter, pavilion that will be located on the center court for viewing, sidewalks, electrical work, plumbing, landscaping, and signage. The combined costs of the entire project are estimated at $473,011.

The school district only committed 40 percent of the project, minus the city’s contribution, which amounts to $141,204, but also includes a $10,000 contingency.

Private funding will have to come up with the additional $211,806 to finish the project.

Highland Schools Superintendent Mike Sutton said crews worked on resurfacing last week and the fence is nearly complete. The next part of the renovation will the construction the pavilion.

Lease for Sammie’s parking lot transfered

The council also approved the assignment of the second renewed lease of land between the city and Ronald and Nina Law to Peggy Price. Ronald and Nina Law were the previous owners of Sammie’s Soft Serve and More before selling the business to Price. The purpose of the renewal is to assign all of the rights and interest of the property to Price, so she can continue using the city’s parking lot next to the business for limited customer parking.

Easement agreement approved

The council agreed to accept a public utilities easement deed from Matthew T. Haar. Haar’s property was recently annexed into the city. Part of the annexation agreement required Haar to grant the city this new easement.

Festival requests approved

The council approved request a request for necessary street closure for the 2016 Highland High School Homecoming Parade, which will be held on Sept. 28, starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by a pep rally on the Square.

The council also approved a request from Kirchenfest organizers for street closures, public safety help and use of city utilities for the St. Paul Church festival, which will be Aug. 26-28 this year.

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 9:30 AM with the headline "City of Highland to help with upgrades to Highland High School athletic facilities."