Tamaqua Area School Board on Tuesday moved forward with a new 9,000-square-foot pole building at the stadium.

The 150-foot by 60-foot building, which is needed to store equipment and vehicles, came in at $620,355.

The board approved a $471,538 base contract for general construction to Dutchman Contracting of Reinholds, Lancaster County.

They also approved an alternate on the general construction contract of $101,987, less $14,670 adjustment for concrete work, and another alternate for $9,000 for demolition.

Berkshire Mechanical/Denny’s Electric was awarded the electrical contract at $52,500.

Business manager Connie Ligenza explained that they were able to get an adjustment on one alternate through a review of the bids, noting that stone was double counted. The contractor had sought to handle it through a change order, she said.

Incoming Superintendent Dr. Stephen Toth thanked the district’s architect Alloy 5, Ligenza and Kenneth Dunkelberger, chief operations officer, for their work securing the best price from contractors for this long-awaited project.

“They really sharpened their pencils,” Toth said. “I’d like to credit our architect Alloy 5, Mr. Dunkelberger and Mrs. Ligenza for getting that number down to a little bit more manageable thing.

“I think we’re all comfortable with putting this in front of you,” he said during finance committee meeting, which was held immediately before the board meeting Tuesday.

The district plans to move ahead with permitting immediately to get the project completed by winter, Toth said. The district will be putting up temporary fencing and barriers around the site, he said.