Emergency repair project at elementary school authorized
The cooling tower will be replaced at a cost not to exceed $9,000.
An emergency repair item for the elementary center was added to Monessen City School District’s agenda during Tuesday’s meeting.
The center, located at 1275 Rostraver St., has to address an emergency repair on the elementary cooling tower at a cost not to exceed $9,000.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte showed pictures of the damages and said the cooling tower stopped working on Tuesday.
Board members Melinda Marinos and Doreen Smith motioned to amend the agenda and then Smith and board member Mark Bellora brought up the motion.
“It was just at the end of its life,” board president Mark Panicucci said. “We did an analysis a little over a year ago of the improvements. This wasn’t on the list at the time. The board was like we can stretch it out and see, and try to get as much time as we can, but it gave up on us.”
Football request turned down
The agenda item to allow a semi-professional football team to use Monessen City School District’s stadium for football games was unanimously rejected Tuesday by board members.
According to Panicucci, the primary conditions of the field are in poor shape, and the school’s flag football team is going to be using it, so there were scheduling conflicts.
“There is just wear and tear on it,” board member Sharon Mauck said. “We feel bad we can’t help them.”
The PA Dawgz semi-professional football team is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing competitive football opportunities while promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership and positive community engagement, according to a proposal submitted to the school district. Players range from ages 18 to 70.
Coach Chelsea Wiley and owner David Mosley came to the school board’s public information agenda meeting March 3 to explain what their team does and how they would be using the stadium.
They asked for use of the stadium, concession stands and locker rooms for their games and team-related activities on Saturday afternoons. The dates were May 23, June 6, June 20 and June 27. They currently practice at a Charleroi elementary school field.
According to their proposal, they have a $5 million general liability insurance policy to ensure the district is fully protected, and they hire their own designated security personnel.
They also have controlled entry points, a zero tolerance drug/alcohol/weapons with fans or players, postevent clean up and more. They would have also paid for the painting of the lines on the field.
“We just need a home field,” Wiley said. “We don’t want to have to tell all our players that we can’t have a season.”
According to Wiley and Mosley, who were both in attendance Tuesday, the board did not give them a reason directly as to why they were not allowed to use the field. They added that they just wanted to make the field better and do not have a backup plan at this point.
“We have to try to figure that out now,” Mosley said. “We don’t really know. We’ve reached out to Clairton, but they thought we were going with Monessen. It seems like a lot of places are having issues with their fields.”
If anyone has any field options, Wiley and Mosley asked them to call 724-2764218 or contact them at padawgzfootball@ gmail.com.
In other business:
• The board approved requests to cover the cost of the projector/screen for $1,581.51 and lighting for $6,383.73 for the high school musical. The district is only paying for half of the lighting.
• Delinquent taxes have been collected through the district solicitor’s firm, Maiello, Brungo & Maiello. From last July through last month, they have collected $308,238.69.
