KARNES CITY – Improvement and upgrade projects for certain Karnes City ISD gym and stadium facilities were reviewed and examined by the board of trustees, during the Dec. 10 regular board meeting.

LaMarr Womack, president of the Corpus Christi-based architect firm LaMarr Womack and Associates, LP, presented the board with drawings of plans and designs for the new bleachers that will replace the older ones in the high school gym.

“It’s been a challenging process, as simple as it may seem to replace bleachers,” said Womack to the council. “But today’s codes, both national codes and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) code requirements, have a direct effect on how you lay out bleachers these days.”

Womack went on to explain various code restrictions and requirements regarding the design in terms of maximum and minimum distances for things like seating, scoring tables, aisles and walkways, players benches, among others.

The board approved the gym bleachers design and the district will put the project out for bids. District officials say that they will have the cost and timeframes for the project available at the next meeting in which the board awards the bid, which will be in either January or February.

Also during meeting, the board awarded the bid for upgrades to the restroom and concession stand facilities of the Poss Johnson Field stadium. The bid was awarded to KJM Commercial for $479,000.

“This is the facility the community has been wanting for at least the past 15 years or so,“ said Superintendent Jeanette Winn. “Construction will begin 10 days after the construction contract is finalized, probably sometime in mid-January. Completion should occur by the end of April.”