Steeplechase gets interim deal for school project

Whitefish School District has made a few decisions toward hiring the professionals who will assist in constructing a new high school.

The school board approved April 10 hiring Steeplechase Development Advisors on an interim basis as the owner’s representative on the project. The board will take requests for proposals to hire a permanent representative as the process continues. The board approved paying Steeplechase $115,000.

“I feel an extreme need to have someone with experience guide us through this process,” trustee Dave Fern said of hiring Steeplechase.

Phil Mitchell addressed the board prior to its vote requesting the district not hire Steeplechase without getting proposals from other firms.

“They’ve done some things well,” he said. “They also burned a bridge with Iron Horse and that’s $1 million we were going to get. I don’t believe Steeplechase is the qualified person to oversee construction of the school.”

The Iron Horse Foundation originally pledged $1 million to the project and later withdrew that pledge. Mitchell claimed the withdrawal was the result of actions by Steeplechase.

Mitchell expressed concern that the board might not be spending taxpayer money wisely by hiring Steeplechase to oversee construction.

“We’re here to build a school not manage it to death,” he said. “What we do need is a liaison person with construction experience to oversee the project. An architect can do 95 percent of what Steeplechase would do.”

Mitchell encouraged the board to advertise for companies to apply for the job of owner’s representative.

Fern said money from Iron Horse is still a possibility and is considered enhancement money not specifically for the construction of the $19 million school.

Bayard Dominick with Steeplechase argued that his firm does have the experience to oversee the construction project. He pointed to one of its partners, Jack Donovan, who has extensive experience working as a development and construction manager on large projects.

“Steeplechase can facilitate with the faculty and the architect through the design process,” Dominick said. “We feel Steeplechase is uniquely qualified to work through the schematic design phase.”

Steeplechase has served as the district’s advisors on the project for the past two years.

After the design is complete and the job is ready for construction bids, Dominick said, it’s important to have a qualified manager in place to further monitor the process.

Board chairwoman Pat Jarvi said the arrangement with Steeplechase is to assist with negotiating the contract with the architect and help create a schematic design.

“Steeplechase will serve as a facilitator in these first stages,” Jarvi said. “We will go out for bids later for a representative for the construction phase.”

The school board approved hiring DLR Group as architect on the project if an agreeable contract can be reached. Trustee Charlie Abell voted against the hiring.

“I think we should look for a local architect,” Abell said. “There are those here who are capable.”

Time is a consideration in the hiring, according to the board. A search for another architect could delay the project, which is on a timeline to break ground this fall.

“A new architect could put a different face on this project,” Trustee Shannon Hanson said. “We have a conceptual idea of the project already from DLR.”

Principal Dave Carlson said the high school staff thinks highly of DLR and has established a trusting relationship with the firm. Working with a new firm could present a challenge time-wise, he noted.