A contractor has been selected to start the first phase of Olympic Stadium improvements and repairs, replacing the fire suppression system and rebuilding the front entryway.

The City of Hoquiam recently sent out for bids for phase one of a major overhaul of the historic wooden stadium, built in 1938; there were five bidders, and Monday the City Council approved a bid of $447,306 from Rognlin’s Inc.

The city has about $516,700 in grant funds currently available for the stadium on Cherry Street, home of Hoquiam Grizzlies football and Loggers Playday. Rognlin’s cost for the first phase “leaves just under $19,000 for any change orders,” which are typical in projects such as this, said City Administrator Brian Shay.

Money left over after the fire sprinkler system installation and entryway rebuild could be used for what is considered the next step in stadium improvements, repairs to the east wall “to make it a little more solid,” said Shay.

The city continues to seek funds for continued improvements to the stadium. “As we proceed on initial grant applications we hope to do much more work on Olympic Stadium moving forward,” said Shay.

To that end, the council Monday authorized grant applications to the state Recreation and Conservation Office and the state Department of Commerce totaling $1.25 million for stadium improvements: $350,000 through the Recreation and Conservation Office and a Community Development Block Grant from Commerce for $900,000. Both applications were submitted over the past week.

Drive-in wifi access

Olympic Stadium is a potential location for a drive-in wifi access point, part of a project by Washington State University Extension, the state Broadband Office and the Washington State Library to provide free wifi access as part of COVID-19 response to those who don’t have broadband service in their homes.

“The state is funding identifying places that have internet already to make use of that internet ultimately at no expense to the host,” said Shay. The stadium is wired for internet but it is not currently active. “If we chose to reactivate internet it would be about $100 a month at our expense, but on the positive side, anyone who needed access can pull up in cars in the parking lot.”

A current drive-in wifi hotspot is available at the Hoquiam Library. The addition of Olympic Stadium would give another option on the east side of town. Shay said this is just the first phase of the project, identifying a potential spot for use by the state program. The project would provide the necessary equipment and promotional items, the city would pay only the monthly service provider fee, if the location is selected.

Loggers Playday

Ward 1 Councilman Paul McMillan told the council Monday that plans for Loggers Playday are moving ahead, with a meeting held Wednesday to figure out plans for a program using local loggers. More information will be provided as it becomes available.