Ames School Board To Hire Construction Manager, Discuss Middle School Sale Monday

Which firm should become the Ames Community School District's construction manager, setting a public hearing for the sale of 48 acres of the former middle school property and what to do with the shuttered Roosevelt Elementary school are all on the Ames Community School Board's agenda tonight.

The regular board meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the multipurpose center at Ames High School, 1921 Ames High Drive.

See the Decision

The Ames Community School Board's facilities committee plans to recommend tonight that the board approve a contract with Taylor Ohde Kitchell for construction management services for the Miller Avenue school site. Taylor Ohde Kitchell was one of seven firms that offered their proposals for services.

Miller is the first of three new elementary schools to be built. It will replace Edwards Elementary.

The board voted earlier this year to use a construction manager for the Miller Avenue project as a test site before deciding to contract with a construction manager for the four remaining elementary school building projects.

Some people like Harold Pike have expressed concerns if the district decides to use a construction manager and bid the building projects in multiple packages saying it would escalate costs and more.

Taylor Ohde Kitchell staff said in a letter to the district that it expected its fees to run 1.4 to 2 percent of the project cost for total construction of all schools and about $528,000 for the Miller School alone. If the firm were used for future elementary building projects they estimated that they would charge about $3.1 million, which includes multiple bid packages.

The board also plans to set a public hearing for the sale of the former middle school on State Avenue. An Austin, TX firm, Breckenridge Land Acquisition/Aspen Heights, put in the highest bid at $2.3 million on Dec. 7. Requirements of the auction include that they take the 48 acres as is instead of waiting for the land to be rezoned.

Before the deal is done, the board will have to hold a public hearing. If board members approve a resolution tonight, a public hearing on the sale would take place Jan. 14.

Landowners of the adjacent property who call themselves College Creek-Old Middle School, have expressed concerns about Brekenridge's previous plan for the land. The developer has said the company would build student housing units capable of holding 900 students on the three parcels land. After winning the land at the auction Dec. 7, the developer said they plan to build single-family lots as a buffer between the Wilmouth Avenue neighborhood and the student housing development.

Finally the Real Estate Liquidations Committee also plans to discuss the future of Roosevelt Elementary school, which closed in 2005. City of Ames staff have said they would support placing a park on the property but would want the district to donate the property and turn it over clear and green.

Check Ames Patch this evening for an update.

SEE MORE ON PATCH

• Could the Ames School Board Waste Your Money
• Breckenridge Highest Bidder For Middle School Property
• And The Winner of the Former Middle School Property Is ….
• Letter to the Editor: Ames School Board Needs To Justify Construction Manager Expense
• Ames City Staff: Transform Roosevelt and Edwards School Sites Into City Parks
• On the Agenda: Ames School Board Interviews Construction Managers
• Developer Airs Plan For Former Ames Middle School Site
• Ames School District Hopes to Finalize Contract with RDG Monday