Plans have been developed and work has begun on the Wescott Field renovation project, now donations need to arrive.

Tuesday, January 23, 2001

Plans have been developed and work has begun on the Wescott Field renovation project, now donations need to arrive. Hoping to keep interest expenses at a minimum and complete the project as soon as possible, the Wescott Improvement Project steering committee plans to intensify fund-raising efforts in the upcoming weeks.

While the individual phase of fund-raising for the Wescott Improvement Project is not complete, the steering committee will soon turn its focus to the business community.

Dan Heins, co-chairman of the Business and Community Relations Committee, announced Friday to the steering committee a schedule by which various business leaders drawn from a master list would be contacted.

On Feb. 1, the committee will send out letters to the business community explaining what the project is, state what is needed and encourage business people to make pledges. Those who have not responded will be sent a second letter on April 20 telling members of the business community that they will be contacted in person.

From April 30 to May 15, committee members will call potential business donors that have not made a pledge.

The committee would also like to contact businesses in Austin that have national organizations. Gail Dennison suggested the state leaders and professional athletes be contacted for possible donations.

As far as individuals, the last of the letters going to residents will be sent out early this week.

Laurie Volz, Director of Business Services for the Austin Independent School District, reported that the Children, Families and Learning agency had approved the committee’s application.

She also said that despite more than $2.1 million in pledges, the district would need to borrow up to $2.1 million. The Board of Education has already approved up to $2.1 million for the project through a tax anticipation certificate. The district will get a "very good rate" of 3.55 percent, Volz said. The borrowed amount will earn interest until it is used.

The interest expenses on the tax anticipation certificate will vary from $2,000 the first year to $64,000 in other years up to $200,000 in total interest.

"Even though we have $2.1 million in pledges it would be quite different to go ahead with $2.1 million in expenditures," Volz said.

Superintendent Jim Hess suggested accelerating "contributions to get the money sooner."

The Board of Education will let bids for the track and surrounding fields at the February board meeting. There is an April target for ground-breaking with a fall 2001 completion of the track.

After the meeting, Hess made it clear about any other monies that might be used on the project.

"We haven’t issued any bonds and we’re not going to ask for any bond money," he said. Hess said the funds would be raised strictly through donations.

Hess said that pledges "continue to trickle in every day." As of Friday, $2,107,753 in pledges had been made.

"For every donation no matter what the size, we send a letter (of thank you) out and it is signed by three people," Hess said.

Naomi Hatfield of the Facilities Committee explained some of the reconfigurations of Wescott Field. She said the main locker rooms would have "considerably more space for varsity and B teams."

Hatfield said plexiglass would be installed in the coaches offices to better monitor locker room activity.

She said the steps to the crow’s nest would be moved from the middle to the side and be "straight up and down the wall." Hatfield said that one of the questions that needed to be answered was how the crow’s nest and coaches’ area could be improved without installing an elevator.

Also, Hatfield pointed out that the shower areas would be improved, creating larger and more flexible ones.