Resident urges board to hold contractors to punch list and keep $700,000 hallway project alive

A resident and longtime district volunteer told the Linn‑Mar board he is deeply concerned about incomplete contractor work at the new performance hall and urged the board not to let a planned $700,000 hallway project be tabled.

"Please don't let that slide," Mike Loren said, urging the board to follow up on a detailed list of unfinished items compiled by the facility’s technical director. He described specific problems: bent thresholds that make set movement difficult, hardware left only partially installed, and use of sandbags to block doors—conditions he said raise ADA accessibility concerns.

Loren, who said he and his family have long participated in district activities, told the board the west-side hallway project—estimated around $700,000—was intended to provide a route between the Colton Center and the performance facility to ease moving sets and band equipment for events. "It's maybe 3% of the total cost of the building," he said, and urged the board against tabling the work.

Board response and follow-up: board members acknowledged Loren's remarks and said staff had received emails from other concerned citizens. District staff and the facility technical director were asked to ensure contractor punch‑list items are tracked and completed ahead of any warranty or final acceptance deadlines.