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Board approves $280,000 supplemental appropriation to finish middle-school turf retaining wall
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to supplement the Louisa County Schools’ turf-field capital project with $280,000 from long-term capital reserves to buy suitable fill for a retaining wall; the vote passed 4–1 with one abstention after supervisors said delaying would increase costs and the fields are largely complete.
County staff asked the board on Sept. 2 to approve a $280,000 budget supplement from county long-term capital reserves to pay for suitable fill and retaining-wall work necessary to complete the middle-school turf fields.
Deputy County Administrator Wanda Colvin and project staff told the board that the retaining wall requires specialized fill to meet engineered standards; an attempt to identify suitable fill on-site did not provide sufficient material and stockpiling and testing on-site would add expense. Staff said using external suitable material (57 stone) and the related change order is the most practical path to finish the backfilling that supports the fields.
Supervisor remarks during the public meeting reflected divided views. Several supervisors said the project is too far along to stop and that completing the retaining wall is necessary to make the fields usable; one supervisor said they had opposed the overall project from the start. Supervisor Woodward told the board he would abstain from the vote. The motion to approve the $280,000 supplement was moved and seconded on the record and passed with four votes in favor, one against and one abstention; the clerk recorded the outcome as 4 in favor, 1 against, 1 abstention. No amendment was approved at the meeting.
Staff said the field-construction work is progressing and that one turf field already has installed turf; the requested supplement covers only the additional retaining-wall fill and related construction costs. The board did not order a broader review of the project scope at the meeting and treated this as a funding fix to complete the current scope.
The appropriation will come from county long-term capital reserves; staff said the funds were not included in the FY2026 budget and needed board authorization to proceed with the change order.
