Craig Daily Press

Craig — The Moffat County School District still is waiting.

At a public forum hosted by the School District on Wednesday, Rick Meserve, The Neenan Company senior project manager, said the state has yet to issue the school district building permits for construction projects funded by a $29.5 million bond issue voters passed in November 2007.

Nonetheless, the school district is moving ahead with construction projects.

“Right now, we have conditional permits to do what we need to do,” Meserve said, adding that construction crews are authorized to continue working on Craig Middle School.

Currently, Anson Excavating and Pipe is demolishing the existing middle school building under a $495,000 contract with the school district.

Construction of a new middle school will begin on the site after demolition is completed.

Multiple subcontractors will be working under The Neenan Company to build the facility, Assistant Superintendent Joel Sheridan said.

Foundation slabs will be competed by mid-August, Meserve said.

Modular buildings will house middle school students while construction continues during the 2008-09 school year. Three of those facilities will contain two classrooms each, said John Sattler, Diversified Consulting Solutions president.

The School District selected the Westminster-based firm as its owner’s representative.

The fourth modular will contain the school’s administrative offices, Sattler said, which will include the school nurse and principal’s facilities.

The administrative modular and one of the three containing classrooms will be equipped with restroom facilities and running water.

In April, the School District approved a contract with Pac Van to provide the 24-by-60-foot temporary structures, each of which will cost $90,000, including rental and installation charges.

Work at Ridgeview and East elementary schools, including upgraded heating and cooling systems, is scheduled for completion in August, Meserve said.

Building additions at East Elementary to house a new cafeteria, kitchen and boiler room are scheduled to be completed by mid October.

However, the timeline of that project could change if the state doesn’t issue building permits in time.

The addition at East Elementary can’t be completed without the permits, Meserve said.

In a previous interview, Meserve said conditional permits allow crews to build exterior walls and slabs but do not authorize them to construct internal walls.

He attributed changes at the state level for the delay.

“The state’s in the process of basically revamping the entire system,” he said. “So, we’re going to keep calling them every day, trying to find out where our final permits are.”

At this point, “That’s anybody’s guess,” he said.

Sattler showed a more buoyant outlook.

“We’re all pretty optimistic and confidant that the permit issue will be resolved … in time not to have significant negative impacts on projects,” he said.