Maury County schools approve $969,000 contract for septic project, authorizing budget amendment

The Maury County Board of Education on Tuesday approved awarding a $949,000 construction bid plus a $20,000 contingency — $969,000 in total — to Griffin Contracting & Excavating to complete a long-delayed underground system project at a school site, and approved a budget amendment to pay for the work from fund balance.

Board members voted to accept the low bid after operations staff described a multi-year permitting and design effort and a vetting process for the bidders. The board also approved a companion budget amendment so the one-time cost can be funded from reserves rather than operating lines.

The project was presented by district operations staffer Perry Perryman, who told the board two qualified bids were received and one contractor issued a no-bid. “Griffin Contracting and Excavating out of Fairview issued the low bid at $949,000. We have vetted that and feel comfortable with their bid,” Perryman said. He asked the board to approve a $20,000 contingency so crews will not need to stop work and return for additional approvals if unseen underground conditions appear; any unspent contingency would be returned to fund balance.

District staff said the project required state approval and that permitting with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) contributed to the delay. A district project lead, Mr. Hall, said construction should start within 30 to 45 days and estimated the contractor’s schedule at 289 working days plus weather days, with likely completion by the end of next summer.

Board members asked about schedule and contingency. Board member Miss Stevenson asked when the work would be finished; staff said the contractor proposed 289 days with additional weather days and that work on boring through an existing dosing tank could be done during fall break to avoid interrupting school operations. Board member Mr. Carter asked how the $20,000 contingency was determined; staff said subsurface work carries unknowns and the amount is intended as a modest buffer against unanticipated conditions.

Mr. Moore moved to approve the repair contract and the budget amendment; Miss Stevenson seconded. The motion passed.

The board approved funding for the contract from fund balance and asked staff to report final expenditures when the project is complete so the board can determine disposition of any returned contingency funds.