Meredith Construction of Kalispell was awarded the contract to building a central school kitchen near Kalispell Middle School Tuesday.

The Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees accepted Meredith’s lowest base bid price of $1,198,000.

The district received two other bids: Hammerquist & Casalegno at $1,219,565 and Swank Enterprise at $1,308,000.

The district recently awarded a $251,550 contract for kitchen equipment to J and V Restaurant Supplies. About $225,000 has been set aside to be used for kitchen equipment in addition to bond money.

Construction is anticipated to begin in July and be completed sometime in December.

The central kitchen construction contract was the final piece a $3.35 million Kalispell elementary construction project that includes classroom additions at Peterson and Edgerton elementary schools. Four classrooms, a multi-purpose room, bathrooms and a serving kitchen are slated to be completed by Hammerquist & Casalegno Aug. 1 at Peterson Elementary. A four-classroom addition and bathrooms at Edgerton being built  by Swank are not far behind.  

The additions are part of an effort to relieve overcrowding. The new central kitchen will replace aging facilities at Flathead High School.

Tom Heinecke, an engineer with Morrison-Maierle — the district’s lead engineering firm — reported that $5,168 remains after all construction bids have been approved.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.