August 29, 2014 at 11:05 a.m.
New stadium lights won't be ready for RHS vs. Merrill football game, district mulling options
New stadium lights won't be ready for RHS vs. Merrill football game, district mulling options
Officials had hoped that the game would be played under newly installed lights at Mike Webster Stadium, however those dreams were dashed Thursday when a large rock stood in the way of one of the new light poles.
"We ran into some big rocks that were unexpected down there. They're (looking at) different ways to go to have a formation down there and different ways to put all the concrete down there to make sure these poles ... are going to be safe," said Activities Director Brian Paulson.
"With all that much more needed concrete that we need, there's a possibility that next Friday against Merrill, the game either could be moved (to a neutral site) or could be played earlier. That's to be determined yet as we look at all our options and what would fit us best."
"We're also looking at possibly (playing the game) on that Saturday," he added.
Paulson told the River News Thursday evening it will take a week to cure the new cement, leaving the status of the game up in the air.
"We have to give the cement a week to cure before we can put the next piece of the lights all the way up. We've got the bottom base but we've got to get the rest of the pieces up," Paulson said.
"We've got two up now. They're going to be beautiful. In the long run, this is going to be awesome," he added. "The community and the high school are going to be proud of what's out there, but there are things that happen and we've got to make sure that everybody's safe and that these lights are going to be safe."
Superintendent Kelli Jacobi said safety is paramount at this time.
"We want to make sure we're proceeding carefully with long-term success in mind," she said. "We want to make sure we're doing it right."
In the meantime, a decision about the location of the Merrill game has to be made.
In addition to the options outlined by Paulson, Jacobi said the parties involved are considering making the game an away game this year and having next year's RHS/Merrill clash take place in Rhinelander.
"The top two plans, looking at it right now (as of Friday morning) are to either have the game in Merrill - switch this year's game and next year's game, flip-flop the locations - or holding it earlier," Jacobi said. "Either of those solutions would be fine with me. I want to make sure it's a solution that works for the team because that's what's really important. They have to feel like it's a good solution."
Paulson said he will be in contact with the coaches to figure out the best solution.
"(The choice is) definitely up to the coaches and players at this point. If they want to play at 7 o'clock underneath the lights because that's what they like, that's what Friday night football's about, 7 o'clock, then we'll do that," Paulson said.
"If they want to stay here to play a 5 o'clock game, we have that option, too. Definitely, if we decide to play somewhere else under the lights, we'd love for the fans to be able to come there and support the team."
The district hopes to announce its decision as soon as possible.
"I'm hoping Tuesday morning for sure," Paulson said, referring to the timeline for the decision. "(I will) definitely get input from the coaches. That will play an important role in where we decide to go and what options we decide to use."
As for the extra work needed to install the lights, Jacobi said she doesn't believe it will require any action by the school board. The board initially set aside $180,000 for the project, but after the project came in at a lower than expected cost, board members approved a motion to complete the work at a cost not to exceed $142,000.
Jacobi said the board will take action to approve the additional expense if needed.
"We're going to wait and see how much more work is required," Jacobi said. "We believe it will come in under $180,000, which was the initial amount of money set aside. We don't foresee it going over that amount. We'll go back and make changes with the board if we find we need to."
More information will be posted on the River News website (www.rivernewsonline.com) as it becomes available. Paulson said the district will post its decision on the school district's website (www.rhinelander.k12.wi.us) as well.
River News associate editor Jeremy Mayo contributed to this report. Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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