Forest funds push KSD stormwater project across the finish line

KELLOGG — The Kellogg School Board recently approved additional funds for the “Stormwater Goes to School” project. 

KSD is scrambling to get the major project wrapped up before students arrive in less than two weeks, but unforeseen issues caused delays.

The project includes grading the parking lots at the middle school, administrative annex and district office; improving access roads; removing parking islands; adding bioswales and paving within the 24-acre campus.

When the district initially put the project out for bid in 2023, it didn’t receive any bids within the $745,000 price range. This forced it to reassess the design of its plans and calls for bids again.  

Big Sky Development of Hayden secured the job earlier this year and began work when school let out.  

Crews discovered places where the ground beneath the parking areas was unstable or contained different materials, including errant sewer lines, logs, tree stumps, glass and other debris that had to be removed and then refilled with proper material.

This forced the project to be redesigned to ensure the project stayed within budget. However, Alta Science and Engineers, the firm that has handled the design and overseen the project, requested $50,000 to cover the extra costs.

The board also approved up to $80,000 to be available to complete the project. 

The $130,000 will be taken from the district’s annual Secure Rural Schools allotment, commonly referred to as “forest funds” that come from the federal government.

The funding for KSD’s Stormwater Goes to School project came from multiple sources, including grants from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality through the ARPA Waste program and the city of Kellogg through the Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Committee.

The improvements are intended to reduce runoff into the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River and Lake Coeur d'Alene.

The project is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 30.