Neoga Board Awards Bid for Asphalt Track

Several years ago, Neoga school officials and community volunteers were raising funds for construction of an all-weather track. Neoga's late track coach Tim Mueller led the charge to raise the funding.

Then, tough financial times for the district came. Those who had raised the funds agreed to let those monies be used to keep the district's athletic programs going.

Now, the district is in better financial shape so the improvements to the track can be addressed.

The Neoga board earlier this year awarded a bid to Effingham Asphalt to do drainage and dirt work at the track behind the junior/senior high school building to build up the track and address low spots. That led to discussion about building the track with an asphalt surface rather than limestone. The work was re-bid and Effingham Asphalt was again the low bidder. The contract was awarded and work will get underway to install an asphalt surface on the track. 

Neoga Superintendent Kevin Haarmann said it won't be an all-weather track yet, but it is going to be nice. Haamann said some of the track team members have talked about resuming fundraising activities that might lead to an all-weather surface. He said the asphalt work could be completed by the end of the month and the track will be ready for next spring's season.

Haarmann said that Tim Mueller would be pleased with the work taking place at Neoga. He added that the district is hopeful of soon finishing out the remodeling at the junior/senior high school building 

Meanwhile, the Neoga board also agreed to submit a grant request for $50,000 from the State. The funds would be used for tuckpointing work at the junior/senior high school building.