Roof repairs en route for Ellis

Ellis Middle School’s auditorium will get a new roof this summer.

At a Monday evening meeting, the Austin Public Schools Board approved a bid by John A. Dalsin and Son Inc. for a roof improvement project. Dalsin made the low bid of $113,305 for the project, and construction is slated to start July 8. It should take five days.

The district made an insurance claim after the auditorium sustained wind damage on Jan. 25, according to Mark Stotts, finance and operations director. The school’s insurance company covered temporary repairs, but a claim for the project itself was denied because the roof has outlived its life expectancy of about 30 years. The work will replace the auditorium roof and remove a temporary ballast in place there.

The district was aware the roof needed repair before the winds hit, Stotts said, but did not have the funds to perform the work. Many of the district’s buildings are aged, and the district does not have enough operating revenue to tend to all such repairs.

“There are certain items we just can’t get to,” he said.

Look to Tuesday’s edition of the Herald for more on the school board meeting.

SportsPlus

Mower County

100 years of serving: VFW Post 1216 to hold century celebration next weekend

Mower County

Assessment to gauge future approaches to health

Mower County

Statewide pheasant numbers similar to 2023

Mower County

Political campaign, advertisement signs not permitted on public highway rights of way

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Aug. 19-Sept. 2

Business

Tidal Wave Auto Spa partners with Autism Friendly Austin for annual Charity Day event

Agriculture

3rd graders to experience local farming at annual Day on the Farm event

Albert Lea

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Albert Lea to close next week

Mower County

Ikes hog roast fundraiser Wednesday

Mower County

Cedar Arts Fest features 17 artists, authors

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County

Mower County

In Your Community: Duplicate Bridge

Mower County

In Your Community: St. Marks hosting variety show

News

Bringing back ‘bio supermarkets’: Program helps landowners restore vanished wetlands

News

Let the hues begin: Fall foliage colors coming to Minnesota in 3, 2, 1 …

News

Human remains believed to be hundreds of years old found on shores of Minnesota lake

News

A rare 1787 copy of the US Constitution is up for auction and it could be worth millions

News

Trump suggests tariffs can help solve rising child care costs in a major economic speech

News

Teen charged in Georgia school shooting and his father to stay in custody after hearings

News

Sluggish US jobs report clears the way for Federal Reserve to cut interest rates

News

Abortion rights questions are on ballots in 9 states. Will they tilt elections?

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Man gets prison time for weapons, drugs charges

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Austin man sentenced to five years for role in Albert Lea armed robbery

Business

Austin Utilities earns award for operational excellence