We've raised most of the money for our new barn, have all the permits, and now we're ready to break ground tomorrow morning. It's the first step in the construction: site preparation.
“The fences are down behind the riding ring, but we have to scrape off the organic materials, stockpile, and truck in new compactable materials to prepare the base,” said Paul Agostini, associate executive director. “This means dump trucks, heavy equipment and lots of noise. We're on a farm. “You have to break some eggs to make an omelet!”
“Eighty loads of material will come in large, tri-axle dump trucks operating between school bus hours on the bus road,” he explained. “It is very important not to have any vehicles or school buses waiting on the back road for school dismissal. For at least three weeks, school buses will be held down by the athletic field until dismissal time. The trucks need to enter the farm from behind the school and access the area from behind the lower barn across from wildlife. This area needs to be kept clear of all equipment, and personnel need to be aware of the dangers of these large trucks, and equipment operating in these areas!”
Silt fencing will be installed this week and construction should start next week. We'll also be starting the new electrical trenches across Ross Field. These will go up to the barns and vocational building to feed the new barn, and replace the overhead electrical lines damaged by lighting.
“It's going to be disruptive,” said executive director Joseph Whalen, who also shared the exciting news that the $18 million DASNY dormitory project could break ground as early as next fall. “Change is difficult, but, as they say, the inconvenience is temporary, but the change is permanent.”
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