TPS seek master plan for athletic fields, pool millage renewal

By: 
MEGAN LINSKI

Swimmer Barbara Wagner is pictured using the Tecumseh Community Pool on Thursday, Dec. 17, for exercise. Photo by Mickey Alvarado.

The Tecumseh Public Schools (TPS) school board voted unanimously on December 14 to move forward with the design of architectural plans for the baseball and softball athletic field, with company Dailey Engineering creating the designs. Kelly Coffin, superintendent for TPS, says the board thought creating one master plan for the entire complex would save time and funds, compared to creating multiple plans as the project proceeded.

“We have a volunteer group called Friends of Tecumseh Baseball and Softball that has wanted to make improvements to our current baseball and softball field at the high school,” Coffin said. “Prior to doing that, the state requires an architectural drawing of the things we want to improve on. In October, the board was asked to consider one drawing for the entire complex.”

Creating one master plan will enable the board to have designs ready before the projects are able to be worked on. “It’s a way for the board to be proactive, so we’re ready to move forward as funds become available,” Coffin said. “It’s a step-by-step project, we’re not doing it all at once.”

The construction will begin with stadium seating at the baseball field. Tim Vannatter of Friends of Tecumseh Baseball and Softball is coordinating the project.

The school board also voted unanimously to call a special school election on March 8, 2016 concerning the recreational millage. The election will decide if the school board renews the millage for 2016. “It’s a recreational millage for the operations of the pool,” Coffin said. “We’re required to renew this year so we can collect the millage next summer. It’s a five year renewal schedule.”

Coffin said the board has done some improvements within the facility, including installing a new air conditioning unit, adding new lockers, new diving boards, a new clock and timing system, and replacing damaged equipment.

“There are lots of visible improvements people notice when they come in, but there’s still a lot of things we want to work on improving,” Coffin said. “Specifically, we need to look at a new air handling system in the next couple years to ensure the air temperature is steady, so the water temperature stays where it needs to be for competition and recreation.”

Coffin said the Friends of Tecumseh Community Pool have been doing a great job informing the public of the board’s actions with the millage acquired in the past. “They’re really the ones helping to educate the community on what we’ve used the money for,” Coffin said. “The pool really is a wonderful asset to our community, and we’ve been able to extend programs for students and have availability outside of the school day.”

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Tecumseh Herald

 

110 E. Logan St.
P.O. Box 218
Tecumseh, MI 49286
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