Seven Hamilton County high schools which have exposed masonry and concrete football stands have been earmarked by the Hamilton County Board of Education for inspection by a structural engineering company.
By a unanimous vote of the board Thursday night at the quarterly meeting, the March Adams engineering firm will inspect the stands for any structural damages and recommendations at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, Hixson, Howard, Lookout Valley, Ooltewah and Tyner.
East Ridge High's stadium has already been inspected by East Ridge inspectors and it was determined the stands need to be torn down.
The cost of the engineering report is $10,000 (approved by a vote of the board) and the report on the structures at the seven schools is due to Hamilton County Department of Education assistant superintendent Dr. Lee McDade by the first of the year.
Dr. McDade and Justin Witt presented costs to the board members for the removal of current stands at approximately $95,000 per school and the building of aluminum stands and a press box at approximately $300,000 per school (seating 1,000-1,100).
County Commissioner Tim Boyd earlier said he had gotten a bid for construction of new metal stands with a press box for under $125,000.
“The tearing down of the existing stands at East Ridge will take about three weeks and another four to five months are needed to have a one-package new aluminum stands seating 1,000 to 1,100 fans with a press box built and ready for use,” said Mr. Witt.
Dr. Jonathan Welch of the board said, “While the engineering firm is inspecting the various stadiums on the home and the visitors’ sides and connecting structures such as restrooms this fall we will have a committee in place to discuss possible ways to fund the new stadium at East Ridge and possibly other schools.”
“The board of education is responsible for maintaining the upkeep of the stadiums, but not to build new ones,” said Dr. McDade.
Superintendent Rick Smith suggested the demolition of the East Ridge stands “while school is not in session (i.e. during Christmas break).”
Yet, the $95,000 needs to be in place before any work is done at East Ridge, it was stated.