Roswell company will replace wind-damaged Chaparral High bleachers at no cost to taxpayers

Roswell-based AK Sales has agreed to replace the Chaparral High School bleachers damaged by strong wind gusts Monday at no cost to Gadsden Independent School District taxpayers.

AK Sales owner Art Moyle told ABC-7 Tuesday his company installed the bleachers without anchoring them to the ground. He sent a company representative to Chaparral Wednesday.

“We took a look at it and it was not anchored, so we’re going to take care of it at no additional cost to the school district,” Moyle said. “We will remove those and try to order some as soon as possible to still try and meet their football schedule.”

“It was the right thing to do and we appreciate his quick response,” Luis Villalobos, a Gadsden ISD Spokesperson, said. “For the safety of the students using that stadium, we are glad they are doing that.”

Moyle took responsibility for what happened Monday evening. “It’s still our fault, we should have had it anchored. We’ll go ahead, and step up, and take care of it. They will be getting new stands,” he said.

The cost of the bleachers, including installation, is $30,000, Moyle said. The bleachers damaged Monday were on the visitors’ side. Moyle said other bleachers installed at the high school were installed properly.

AK Sales has been awarded $94,000 in GISD contracts since 2010, Villalobos said.