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Buchanan County board approves utility relocation and grading amendment for Southern Gap high school project
Summary
The Buchanan County School Board approved a contract to relocate utilities at the new Southern Gap high school site (not to exceed $200,000), directed counsel to seek removal of an arbitration clause, and approved a design‑build grading amendment for phase 1 of the project.
The Buchanan County School Board on Monday approved a contract with Intervest to relocate gas and power lines at the Southern Gap new high school site and authorized a design‑build amendment for grading work for phase 1 of the project.
Curtis Eelswick, who gave the board a project update, said contracts between the school system and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been executed, which “means we have money to move forward into the next phase of the project,” and that construction on the Southern Gap site is expected to begin in June once permitting from the Department of Environmental Quality is finalized. "The design of the building and the site improvements is continuing," Eelswick said during his presentation.
Business out of a closed session produced the Intervest motion. A board member moved to authorize up to $200,000 for relocation of utilities; board member (42), who teaches cybersecurity and spoke during the meeting as an instructor, asked the board to add direction to counsel to pursue removal of an arbitration clause from the contract. The mover agreed to the amendment.
The board then voted to approve the Intervest contract with that amendment. A recorded roll call showed the motion carried (members voting yes and no were read into the record by the chair).
Shortly afterward the board approved a design‑build amendment for grading at phase 1 of the Southern Gap site. The amendment passed after a recorded vote; two members voted no.
Board member (14) also brought a motion to donate a small parcel of surplus property in front of Twin Valley Elementary back to the board of supervisors; that motion passed.
Officials gave limited cost context during the meeting. The Intervest authorization sets a maximum payment of $200,000; a separate estimate discussed informally for a different facilities repair was said to be about $50,000, but formal bids and contract documents will define final costs.
Next steps include securing the remaining environmental permits, finalizing negotiated contract language per the board’s instruction to counsel, and proceeding with the early grading and utility relocation so construction can begin at the Southern Gap site.
