Facilities committee forwards multiple construction bids, contracts and easements to full board

Union County Public Schools Facilities Committee members on March 26 voted unanimously to send multiple construction bids, a stadium change order, a sole‑source vendor renewal and two NCDOT easement offers to the full Board of Education for final approval.

The committee sent staff recommendations on lowest responsive bidders and contract actions to the board by motions that passed on voice votes (mostly recorded as 4‑0). "Bids were received on February 27. We received a total of 12 bids. The lowest response of bidder was Weather Guard in the amount of $429,600," said Miss Emel, facilities department staff, introducing the facilities department roofing project bid recommendation.

Why it matters: the forwarded items cover building envelopes, rooftop HVAC units, stadium work, audiovisual upgrades and maintenance‑chemical purchasing that affect school operations, project schedules and multiple capital budgets. Several projects include stated funding sources or contingency requests that will be examined by the full board.

Key items forwarded

- Facilities department roofing project: Staff said 12 bids were received and that the lowest responsive bidder was Weather Guard with a bid of $429,600. The committee voted to send the recommendation to the full board.

- Newtown Elementary roof replacement: Staff reported 10 contractor bids and identified Wrike Roofing as the lowest responsive bidder. The transcript recorded two differing figures when the bidder amount was read; the committee nevertheless voted to forward the recommendation to the full board. (The exact amount is recorded inconsistently in the meeting transcript and will be confirmed in the board packet.)

- Parkwood High Stadium change order: Facilities staff requested a change order of $340,915 to address unsuitable soils and asphalt work on the track and to replenish contingency funds to keep the project on schedule. Staff said funding for the overall project includes a $1.5 million state grant and $1.1 million from the FY25 capital improvement plan. Staff said the field work will be completed before graduation; the track work may continue. The committee voted to forward the change order request to the full board.

- Piedmont High School rooftop units: Staff reported four contractor bids and named Fire and Petey Veneer as the lowest responsive bidder; the transcript did not provide a clear dollar amount. The committee voted to forward the recommendation to the full board.

- Professional Development Center audiovisual replacement: Facilities staff said six contractors bid; the lowest bidder was CTI at $385,375. Staff also presented a three‑year extended warranty and maintenance line item of $27,005.45, producing a project subtotal reported in the meeting as $400,894 (which includes owner contingency requested by staff to address schedule risks before August). The committee voted to forward the AV replacement to the full board.

- Sole‑source purchase for custodial chemicals (Interstate Solutions): Staff described the annual expected spend as about $250,000 and said the sole‑source contract would run through 2028. The committee voted to send the sole‑source renewal to the full board.

- NCDOT easement for Skyway Drive (roundabout near Highway 74): Facilities staff described a small parcel (approximately 0.035 acres) that UCPS no longer uses; NCDOT sought an easement for construction of a roundabout. Staff said the district expects compensation of about $3,100. The committee voted to forward the conveyance/easement for board approval.

- Weddington Road widening (NCDOT coordination): Staff said DOT is planning to widen Weddington Road over the next several years; the project will affect three driveways at Wellington High School and requires construction, right‑of‑way and utility easements. Staff said current parking will not be impacted, signage compensation will be negotiated separately and routing for buses will be adjusted to accommodate driveway changes. The committee voted to forward the easement and coordination authorization to the full board.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda: passed (voice). - Approve prior meeting minutes: passed (voice). - Facilities department roofing project: motion to send to full board — passed (recorded 4‑0). - Newtown Elementary roof replacement: motion to send to full board — passed (recorded 4‑0). - Parkwood High Stadium change order ($340,915): motion to send to full board — passed (recorded 4‑0); staff stated funding sources as a $1.5 million state grant and $1.1 million from FY25 CIP. - Piedmont High rooftop units (lowest bidder named; amount not specified in transcript): motion to send to full board — passed (recorded 4‑0). - PDC audiovisual replacement (CTI; low bid $385,375; warranty $27,005.45; total reported in meeting $400,894): motion to send to full board — passed (recorded 4‑0). - Sole‑source interstate solutions (custodial chemicals; ~ $250,000 yearly; contract through 2028): motion to send to full board — passed (recorded 4‑0). - NCDOT Skyway Drive easement (conveyance; ~0.035 acres; compensation ~ $3,100): motion to send to full board — passed (recorded 4‑0). - Weddington Road widening easements and coordination at Wellington High School: motion to send to full board — passed (recorded 4‑0).

Committee members and staff quoted in the meeting described schedule constraints for several projects and asked for contingencies to ensure completion before key school events. The full Board of Education will receive the committee’s recommendations for final action; the board meeting date was not specified in the Facilities Committee transcript.