By Kris Leonhardt

Editor

MARSHFIELD — During its Sept. 13 meeting, the Marshfield School Board approved motions to extend the contract with Stevens Point-based Rettler Corporation and proceed with the design and fundraising phase of the district’s plans to improve existing and develop new athletic facilities.

The $10.5 million dollar athletic facilities project will include a new football/track multisport complex, new soccer fields, a junior varsity baseball field, and practice fields.

Finance Committee chair Amber Kiggens-Leifheit said the extension of the contract was necessary to proceed with fundraising for the project.

“These documents are needed so that the fundraising team that is here locally — it’s local people that are going to be doing the fundraising, not the consultant — can go out and meet with people and explain the project better to them,” Kiggens-Leifheit said.

Kiggens-Leifheit said that the new Rettler contract would cost $149,000, of which $13,000 had already been paid, thus bringing the total cost to $136,000. This would cover items such as preliminary design, meeting with the city regarding permitting, initial environmental assessment, and storm water management.

The board also approved accepting consulting services from the Sweeney Group out of Madison to assist local fundraisers.

“They’ve come back and told us that the community is very interested in this project,” said Facilities, Safety & Transportation Committee chair Mark Konrardy. “They believe the money is there, and the response from the community has been, ‘Let’s get this thing going now.’”

The consulting contract with the Sweeney Group totals $76,500 and will begin a formal fundraising campaign for the project. A capital campaign is planned to begin in December of this year.