Hickman County board approves time-sensitive bus grant, construction change order and budget amendments

The Hickman County Board of Education on Jan. 12 approved a time-sensitive bus-grant contract, a construction change order related to a new building site, and three budget amendments to cover related expenses.

The board first amended its agenda to add the previously tabled bus-grant item because staff said the contract had a Jan. 15 signing deadline. Unidentified Speaker 1 told the board the program is a “buy one, get one” arrangement and that the district qualifies for up to 50% reimbursement if it can find matching funds; the board moved and approved the amendment to consider the item that night.

On the bus grant, staff presented the contract and asked the board to authorize returning the signed agreement before the Jan. 15 deadline. After discussion the board approved the contract by voice vote. Unidentified Speaker 1 said officials expected the district to cover one bus purchase this year and a second the following year so the district would meet the reimbursement structure.

The board also approved a construction change order after staff reported an unmarked plastic gas line and an electrical service for a light pole were discovered at the new building site during site investigation. Speaker 16 told the board: “The gas line is $99,561 to relocate and the electrical is $7,906.” The board moved to approve the change order and carried it by roll call; several members answered 'Yes' when called.

Minutes and staff documents presented at the meeting list a combined total for those relocations as “$17,004.67 and 84¢,” a figure inconsistent with the two line items quoted by staff. The board approved the change order and instructed staff to follow with a budget amendment to appropriate funds; the discrepancy in the minutes and the quoted line items was not resolved during the meeting and is noted here for clarity.

Budget amendment items 22, 23 and 24 were presented and approved in the same sequence. Speaker 16 described amendment 22 as the receipt and distribution of roughly $58,000 in TCAT revenues for programs and teachers; amendment 23 would move $20,000 from an ISM grant toward relocation costs; amendment 24 would add funds to educational cost lines approaching overspend. The board approved the amendments in a single vote.

Other routine items approved that evening included minutes from the Dec. 17 special call meeting, several student trips, and a consent agenda of routine items.

What’s next: Staff said crews would begin the relocation work as early as the Thursday following the meeting if contracts were in place, and staff will prepare the follow-up budget amendments and documentation required for auditing and reimbursement.