Weather boon for sports complex

HUMBOLDT — During 12 of December’s first 18 days high temperatures exceeded 50 degrees, exceptional weather for the run-up to winter.
K.B. Criss, superintendent of Humboldt schools, and a covey of workers making progress with USD 258’s new sports complex at the east edge of town, aren’t complaining.
“We’ve really been moving along with the good weather,” Criss said. “We’re in phase 2,” which is construction of the sports fields.
The addition will have football, baseball and softball fields, as well as a running track around the football field and venues for field events.
When the project started, Criss said he hoped it would be far enough along so that some spring sports — baseball, softball and track and field — could be held there.
“It looks like we’re going to have most of it ready by spring, maybe not at the very start of spring sports, but probably by the second half,” Criss said. “We may have to put up Porta Potties,” but that could be the only concession to finish-up construction.
He estimated July 1 as a realistic completion date.
“The curbs for the track are in place and the field lights will start going up the first week of January,” Criss added.
Construction of seating will start soon, and next up in the bidding process are those for a building to include restrooms, concession stand and equipment storage and stadium and press box, as well as fencing.

CASH ON hand will pay for buildings and a lease-purchase agreement negotiated with Community National Bank will provide funding of up to $2 million for equipment, fields, track and fencing.
A rock road — eventually to be hard-surfaced — leads from Georgia Road to the complex on the south half of a nearly 52-acre tract given to the district by Joe and Jane Works. The Works own B&W Trailer Hitches and are known for their community benevolence.
A water line was installed recently along the access road.
The north part of the tract will be held in abeyance, awaiting the time when a new school may be built.
Completion will mean the district will abandon Walter Johnson Field, where high school and junior high teams have played football since the 1930s. Baseball games also have been played within the rock-fenced Works Progress Administration project, softball games at Sweatt Park in southeast Humboldt.
Humboldt track athletes haven’t had a track to call their own since a makeshift oval at the south edge of town was abandoned years ago.
That was part of the motivation for the new complex, to give Humboldt runners something other than asphalt streets to practice on. Meets have been held out of town.

CRISS SAID earlier that the project will not mean an increase in property taxes for district patrons and the lease-purchase agreement assured there will be no bond issue. Lease-purchase, negotiated at low rates that are one of the few positive features of the recession and recovering economy, means the district can retire the note over a period of years.
Money accumulated over several years in the capital outlay fund will meet costs not covered by lease-purchase and also provide funds to pay off part of the lease-purchase agreement.
In the four years Criss has been superintendent, the district’s overall property tax levy has decreased, from 63.97 mills in 2009-10 to 63.124 mills this year. 
Criss also has been adamant that the project would not affect the district’s primary goal, providing “the best possible educational experience we can for all of our students.”