News Photo by Crystal Nelson Ed Hunt, president of the Gaylord-based Integrity Construction Services, tells the Hillman Community Schools Board of Education on Wednesday how his construction management firm could help in the planning of a new elementary school.

HILLMAN — The Hillman Community Schools Board of Education during a special meeting on Wednesday heard proposals from two local construction management firms about how they could assist the district in planning for the construction of a new elementary school.

The board will hold another special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the junior and senior high school media center to decide which management firm they would like to work with.

District officials in May of 2022 plan to ask taxpayers to support a property tax to fund the construction of a new elementary school, which would be built on the same property as the junior and senior high school.

“The elementary school we have was built in the 50s,” Superintendent Carl Seiter said. “That’s the issue, how long do we continue to put money into that building with the sinking fund dollars.”

Seiter said while the property tax could generate $14.1 million, district officials have not decided how much money they will ask taxpayers for. He said the district’s current property tax expires in 2023.

The board heard from representatives of Integrity Construction Services of Gaylord and Wolgast Corporation of Alpena, who presented their services to the board.

Integrity Construction Services President Ed Hunt said the firm has completed projects for K-12 school districts and community colleges, while Project Coordinator Joe Powers said Wolgast Corp. works exclusively on K-12 schools.

Wolgast Corp. is currently finishing a renovation project at Atlanta Community Schools, Seiter said.

Hunt said Integrity Construction Services would charge the district $10,000 to complete pre-bond work, which it would owe whether the bond passes or fails. The firm would also charge the district $30,000 for pre-construction, and a fee structure of 5% to 7% the cost of construction.

Wolgast’s Powers said the company’s prebond services are free. Once the bond passes, the firm would charge 2.5% of the cost of the project for professional services and 4.5% to 5% for staffing.

Powers said Wolgast Corp. is unique because it helps districts with campaigning for their bond project and that they would promote this bond measure as “a zero mill increase.”

Seiter said he worries the public might be concerned the school district is building when the cost of construction is so high.

“The biggest thing is they don’t build schools out of wood,” Powers responded, noting the trend data he’s seen shows the supply chain catching up by the end of summer.

Following the presentations, Seiter said Wolgast Corp. has a niche of working exclusively K-12. He also said the company’s fee is typical.

“As you can probably tell, I’m fairly comfortable with Wolgast,” he said. “I know their process and know their procedure, and they don’t gouge you.”