Lee County Board authorizes bid process for welding lab ventilation upgrades estimated at $85,000

The Lee County Board of Education on June 11 authorized staff to solicit quotes and bids for new, movable ventilation equipment for the district’s CTA welding laboratory to address an aging ventilation system that staff said poses a safety hazard.

Superintendent Robert Truit described the equipment as meeting industry standards and noted that the units would be movable so they could be reused if the welding lab is relocated in the future. He said the district’s current system is not pulling the correct filtration and that the existing equipment has served its life. "The approximate that the total cost of this project will be in the neighborhood of $85,000," Truit said. Board members confirmed the lab serves 14 welding booths.

The board voted unanimously to approve the bid process and move forward with the project solicitation.