Alta, Iowa (NorthwestIowaNow.com) – Construction on the new Alta-Aurelia Warrior Athletic Complex is moving quickly, and it’s coming in under budget. Superintendent Denny Olhausen says the foundation work is nearly done, with the concrete floor going in next.
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The project was initially estimated to cost around seven-and-a-half million dollars, funded by bonding against future state sales tax dollars. But Olhausen says the bids came in significantly lower, leaving the district with a pleasant surprise.
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The extra money is now a conversation piece for the school board, with options including paying down debt or funding other projects in the district.
The facility itself will include a new weight room, a wrestling room with two mats, cross-courts for basketball and volleyball tournaments, and a turfed area with batting cages for speed and agility programs. Olhausen says it’s a practice facility, not an official competition space, which helps the district avoid new state laws requiring major, expensive building code updates for all facilities.
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In addition to the athletic complex, Alta-Aurelia is converting the former community library into a new central office and new school library.