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Board approves construction change orders; discusses athletic site, transformer relocation and design responsibilities
Summary
The board approved multiple change orders for the district's construction program, including blacktop work and electrical adjustments required to move a transformer, and held extended discussion about athletics site options, sinkholes, drainage and who bears costs for design omissions.
The Mercer County Board of Education approved a series of construction change orders for ongoing school projects and heard extended staff and contractor discussion about athletic site options, drainage challenges and an electrical transformer relocation required by utility standards.
Board members approved motions on multiple change orders, including a blacktop/parking revision and electrical contractor work tied to moving a transformer pad to meet required clearance. Staff explained the transformer and its concrete pad must be positioned farther from the building to meet utility standards; contractors and staff described the work as moving the concrete pad laterally prior to installation to meet Kentucky Utilities and state cabinet clearance requirements.
Several board members and staff raised concerns about cost responsibility when design omissions occur. A number of speakers said the additional trenching, wiring and relocation expenses appeared to stem from items that were not included or were changed after the original design. Board members urged the district and contractors to pursue accountability and to request second opinions from inspectors where appropriate.
Separately, the board reviewed three conceptual options for siting a new athletics complex and field adjacent to the high school. Presenters described a site with a 28-foot grade change, sinkhole-prone wet soils, and utility routing constraints. Topics covered included ADA access, parking proximity, storage for track equipment, the cost of rock or bedrock excavation, stormwater paths and the need for retaining walls where the site drops away. Staff said some options would require re-routing roads or extending utilities and that placement further from parking could increase spectator walk times.
Board members approved the change orders by roll call. Staff said they will continue to work with contractors and the State Building Inspector to refine plans and costs and will return with more detailed estimates as design and site work progress.
Votes at a glance: change orders and contractor approvals — approved (roll calls recorded; individual roll-calls appear in meeting minutes).
