By Jim Dickerson
A plan to get proposals for repair or replacement of the heating system at the Boone Central Middle School in Petersburg emerged from a lengthy school board discussion Monday night, June 11.
About 40 people were in the audience for a special one-hour session that preceded the board’s regular monthly meeting at Petersburg.
Last month, the board began discussions of how best to proceed with repair of the heating system in the older portion of the middle school. The current steam boiler is leaking and needs to be replaced. Bids for repair have ranged from $40,000 to $100,000.
The boiler was last replaced in the 1970s, but the steam heat distribution system is estimated at 70 years old. Replacement of the distribution system would likely also involve asbestos removal.
At least four repair bids were received last spring. One included only boiler replacement, while others had included replacement of other components, such as the condensate tank, heat exchanger, distribution system and lining the chimney. Superintendent Nicole Hardwick also noted the current system does not have an emergency shut-off, which would need to be added.
Read the complete story in the June 13 Albion News & Petersburg Press, Print and E-Editions.
