Richland County CUSD 1 advances athletic-complex planning and approves solar installations

Richland County Community School District 1 trustees authorized contracts and bidding steps Thursday to advance a proposed athletic complex while separately approving solar installations for the middle and high schools.

At the meeting, the board approved a master-design contract with FGM and a construction contract form with Petkers Construction tied to a $6,000,000 design baseline. Administration said the FGM fee would be approximately $452,000 if the building bids at $6 million. Trustees then authorized staff to issue requests for bids that will include base and alternate options so the board can choose components — for example, whether to place a multiuse “Vets Hall” inside the building (which would increase cost and height because it could serve as the storm shelter) or build a smaller, separate Morton-style structure at lower cost.

The board discussed how to pay for the projects. Staff presented two bonding scenarios: bundling $9,000,000 for the athletic complex with current bond refinancing, or issuing $8,000,000 for the athletic project and keeping a separate $1,000,000 financing line for solar. Administration said combining the athletic work and solar into one bond issuance would save the district roughly $19,000 versus keeping the two financings separate but would extend amortization into 2049. Trustees asked staff and the bonding advisor to start the bonding process in January and return with firm figures in time to sell in March if market conditions are favorable.

Separately, the board approved firm proposals from Straight Up Solar to install rooftop systems at both Richland County Middle School and Richland County High School. Vendor Drew Miller described system warranties and guarantees: a 30-year panel production warranty (panels expected to produce at least 85% of year‑one output at year 30), a 25‑year equipment warranty for inverters, and an 80% production guarantee for year one; if the system underperforms versus the guaranteed output, the vendor will pay the difference or add capacity. Staff estimated the high‑school system payback at about seven years and the middle-school system at roughly five and a half years; administration estimated added insurance costs at about $10,800 for both buildings combined. Trustees approved the solar contracts by roll call.

Administration said they could fund the solar from the Education Fund (EBF) to avoid bonding interest on that portion and retain cash reserves at a target level. The board scheduled a special meeting for Jan. 5 to finalize bonding options and review refined bid and cost data before any bond sale.

The contracts approved at Thursday’s meeting allow the district to move forward with detailed design, structural and roof assessments, and the bid process; final award of construction contracts will follow bid evaluation and the board’s selection of the preferred option.