Ringgold school board approves plans to fix water runoff problem
NEW EAGLE – Ringgold School Board accepted a proposal Wednesday to resolve an ongoing water runoff problem on a hillside overlooking its football stadium.
During a special meeting, the board accepted the proposal from Hunter Heiges Sabo Douglass & Rogers Architects/Engineers in the amount of $31,100 for the design, bidding, construction administration and project closeout phase for the stabilization and drainage improvements of the hillside.
According to Matthew P. Franz, vice president of HHSDR, the plan is to remove some of the soil that is slipping on the hillside, then stabilize the hillside with stones and install a more efficient drainage system.
“Our goal is to collect water as it seeps out of the hillside and convey it to a retention pond that’s already onsite,” said Franz. “We want to direct the water away from the hillside so it’s not stagnant at the bottom. As part of this project, we might also have to address some undersized drainage pipes that are handling the runoff.”
Franz noted that work on the hillside may not start until March or April. Ringgold has not yet bid for contractors for this project. HHSDR is providing Ringgold with professional design services, he said.
Franz added that HHSDR will also oversee a project to replace the high school track. He said that the track has outlived its life expectancy.