Bordewich-Bray builders hit delay

For the first time since work began on the addition to Bordewich-Bray Elementary School, construction has been delayed.

The steel trusses for the roof structure were not delivered on time and probably won't arrive until Monday.

"We've been waiting a week for these trusses," said Mike Mitchell, operations director for the Carson City School District. "It's really been frustrating. We're caught at that point that you can't get in front of yourself and start working on the things inside. We just have to wait."

The manufacturer of the trusses did not give an explanation as to why the delivery is behind schedule, but Mitchell said it may be a result of the war in Iraq.

"The industry of the United States has kind of been refocused," he explained. "Materials are being diverted to Iraq to help rebuild the infrastructure there."

Additional workers may be called in to make up for the delay once the trusses arrive, and Mitchell said he still expects the addition to be complete by Spring Break in April.

The worst-case scenario would be that a storm hits before the roof is waterproof and extra measures have to be taken to protect and dry projects beneath it.

"That will mean an additional cost for temporary heat and/or weatherproofing," Mitchell said. "Anytime you work through the winter, you expect those kind of weather- related delays, so they were factored into our budgeting. But we'd rather not spend it that way. We'd rather have the money available for additional projects we may want to work on."

The addition, which runs along King Street, became necessary after toxic mold was discovered within the walls of the school's portable buildings in 2001. The buildings were removed and voters passed a $3.75 million bond issue in last year's election to pay for the addition.

Mitchell will explain the delay and update other areas of the construction process to members of the Carson City School Board at tonight's meeting.

Contact Teri Vance at 881-1272 or tvance@nevadaappeal.com.