Margaretta Schools renovates football stadium

CASTALIA — Margaretta Schools' football stadium will have an upgraded look come this fall. Last November, strong winds tore the roof off the stadium's press box and blew visitor bleachers off their foundation into the football field, which scraped the new track paid for by athletic boosters last year.Renovations to the stadium started June 1 and should be completed by the end of August. By then, community members should expect to see new bleachers on the home and visitor sides and a new press box."We hope to have it done by the first (football) game," district superintendent Dennis Mock said.The cement base for Margaretta High School's home stands was demolished due to stability issues and will be replaced with aluminum bleachers. Due to stability issues with a new press box, the cement base holding the previous home bleachers was demolished to make way for new aluminum bleachers, which will be smaller as attendance has dwindled, district treasurer Diane Keegan said. Demolition of the cement base was done by Shortridge Construction."We felt that we needed to address the issue," Keegan said.Other companies contributing to the project include Rudolph Libbe of Walbridge for architectural work; Sightlines Inc. of Kentucky for the bleachers and press box; Erie Blacktop for paving; Torrence Sound Equipment for the press box's sound system; Fresch Electric for electrical work; and Keller Plumbing for stadium restroom repairs.The roof of the press box at Margaretta High School's football stadium was ripped off by strong winds in November 2017. The project is estimated to cost $800,000 to $850,000, Keegan said. The school district's insurance has paid $200,000 for the damage with the rest being paid for by the district's permanent improvement fund, which can only be used for repairing buses, maintaining facilities, replacing textbooks and upgrading technology. It cannot be used for salaries and employee benefits, which come from the district's general fund.Margaretta Schools' recent budget cuts will not affect the renovation project funding, Keegan said."It's a different fund (the money is coming from)," she said.Strong winds from a storm in November 2017 blew visitor stands at Margaretta High School's football stadium off the foundation, damaging the new track. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodThe cement base for Margaretta High School's home stands was demolished due to stability issues and will be replaced with aluminum bleachers.