BORDERLAND

Sylvania school board awards stadium contracts

Construction on Southview's new Mel Nusbaum Football Stadium to begin in March

Sylvania Southview Athletic Complex master plan rendering.

Sylvania Southview Athletic Complex master plan rendering.

Sylvania School District officials awarded construction contracts today on the new Mel Nusbaum Football Stadium at Southview High School, and say they expect to begin building in early March.

Sylvania Southview Athletic Complex master plan details.

Board members Monday unanimously approved six bids that had been finalized by Alan Bacho, director of facilities, and Kurt Miller, of Miller Diversified Construction of Maumee, for just under $1.2 million. The total came in about $60,000 below project budget, Mr. Bacho said.

He told members that weather permitting, March 3 is the scheduled start date. It has a fall completion date.

As construction consultant, Mr. Miller said the company will have a representative on-site overseeing the build.

The new stadium will keep the current track and field at what is currently known as Cougar Stadium.

Part of the bleachers upgrade, a contract awarded to Dave York Sports of Louisville for $843,000, includes refurbishing home bleachers for use by visiting teams, and will seat 1,040 people. The current visitors side, which is on the east side of the field, will be transformed into home bleachers, fitting 2,780 seats and a press box. New fencing, excavation, and a scoreboard are also part of the project.

The Spieker Company of Perrysburg will compete concrete work for about $104,000; while Lake Erie Electric of Bowling Green will perform the electrical work for about $73,000.

Gradel of Toledo will pave the site for about $95,000; Toledo Fence and Supply Company was awarded the contract to provide fencing for about $41,000. Sports Equipment Specialists of Cleveland will install the scoreboard for about $42,000.

In December the school announced it received a $500,000 donation to name the stadium in memory of Mr. Nusbaum, a prominent family lawyer and sports enthusiast. Family and friends raised the money for the donation.

The balance of the project will be paid with $625,000 from the capital improvement fund from the sale of land behind Timberstone Junior High School, about $100,000 raised through scoreboard advertisements, and about $100,000 in in-kind donations for construction material, Superintendent Brad Rieger said.

The stadium is part of a long-term $11 million athletic field upgrade plan at Northview and Southview high schools. The parent-run Athletic Foundation is raising funds to cover the upgrade costs.

Contact Natalie Trusso Cafarello at: 419-206-0356, or ntrusso@theblade.com, or on Twitter @natalietrusso.