Goodrich – It may be standing room only in the bleachers on Aug. 28, when the Martians open their season against Richmond High School.
SET SEG Insurance Company, the district’s liability insurance carrier, is asking the board to bring their football stadium bleachers up to their safety standards. In addition, they have asked that fencing be put in and around the bleachers to prevent students from climbing underneath the bleachers. They also want the wooden boards in the bleachers replaced to prevent spectators from falling through.
‘Last fall I know that children fell through the bleachers, said Trustee Linda Jackson. ‘This is a serious liability issue.?
The district originally received a bid of $60,000 to fix both the home and visitors side of the bleachers which SET SEG said needed to be repaired. However, the immediate need is to fix the home side in time for the high school’s first game.
‘There is no time for a bond issue, and we just can’t afford to replace the stadium’s bleachers for economic reasons,? said Larry Allen, district interim superintendent.
Michigan Fence Company has given the district a bid of $12,000 for the fencing to be repaired on the home side of the stadium. At the Aug. 11 school board meeting, the board voted unanimously to get the fencing installed as soon as possible.
‘We cannot delay this project,? said Trustee Michael Thorp.
Al Martus said his biggest concern is homecoming, which is Oct. 2 this year.
‘We are asking the community for help with the installation of the fence,? said Michael Tripp, board president. ‘If we get enough volunteers, it will get done quicker and eliminate installation costs. We want to get as close to compliance as we can, and with enough people, we can make some other repairs as well.?
Tripp said all spectators will need to be placed on the home side of the football field. ‘We can rent some temporary bleachers for the home side if we need to. However, I have a lot of confidence that we will get this project done before our first home game.?