Ringgold High School construction class to build pole barn for city maintenance shop
Ringgold’s City Council recently approved a construction proposal that will give students from Ringgold High School the opportunity to construct a pole barn for the city’s maintenance shop.
During the May 14 City Council meeting, the board unanimously approved a partnership bid between he city and Ringgold High School for the work that will not only give the city the coverage it needs at its shop, but will also provide construction students the opportunity to hone their skills on a bigger project than they’ve ever had the chance to work on.
“At the maintenance shop on Sparks Street, we’ve got a large area where we need to add additional pole barns and we’re proud that Timothy Elliot (Ringgold High School teacher) and Stephen Middlebrooks, our Parks and Recreation Director, got together and came up with a 75-foot by 35-foot pole barn, which is a pretty large building,” explained City Manager Dan Wright. “Tim wants to use some of his advanced construction crew there at the Ringgold High School.”
Last year, the students in Elliott’s class built a portable storage shed that currently resides behind Patriot Hall and have built wooden crosses for the city’s annual Festival of Flags celebration.
“They’ve built portable buildings, but he’d like to move them to a pole barn type situation,” Wright said. “All the city would have to pay for is the materials, and it’s estimated at $11,257. It would be more than likely August or September before they could get started, but we would love to allow those young men and women the chance to come over and work on our property right across from the school system.”
The board unanimously approved the partnership agreement, and Mayor Nick Millwood, a teacher, said he’s excited about giving students this chance to work on such a big project.
“What a great opportunity for a partnership with our schools, I was so happy to see this,” Millwood said. “This looks like a fair bid, and they do quality work, so I feel really good about this.”