Board approves $7.98 million from general fund for Highlands School GMP; board and school prefer fuel‑tank removal

The Macon County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 10 to fund the Highlands School guaranteed maximum price (GMP) by taking $7,983,983 from the county general fund balance and approving a related budget amendment. The motion carried 4-1, with Commissioners Shields, Antoine, Shearl and Higdon voting in favor and Commissioner Young opposing the measure. Commissioner Higdon was not present for portions of the meeting but his vote was recorded in the affirmative.

LS3P Project Manager Emily Kite presented a project timeline during a PowerPoint presentation, and Vannoy Construction representative Kevin Aull reviewed three mitigation options for a legacy fuel tank on the Highlands School site. Hilary Wilkes, representing the Macon County Board of Education, said the board preferred option 2: removal of the underground storage tank at an estimated cost of $825,000. The presentation and discussion focused on cost estimates and funding approaches for mitigation and for the overall project.

The board’s approval authorizes transfer of nearly $8 million from the general fund balance to cover project costs; the record does not show any additional approval steps beyond the budget amendment referenced at the meeting. No separate vote on the tank removal itself was recorded on Sept. 10; the Board of Education indicated preference for removal and the county accepted the GMP funding motion that included the project scope.

Board members asked questions about funding sources and mitigation cost calculations during the discussion and requested continued coordination between county staff, the Board of Education and LS3P project management as the project advances.