Macon County commissioners approve contract amendments to advance Franklin High School project amid split votes

The Macon County Board of Commissioners on May 28 approved a series of contract amendments to allow immediate planning and summer work on Franklin High School (FHS) and Highlands School projects, despite split votes and objections from two commissioners who said they had not seen sufficient project plans.

County Manager Derek Roland told the board costs have risen since February—about $10 million for FHS and $2.5 million for Highlands—putting the current project totals at roughly $137,624,444 for FHS and $8,575,068 for Highlands. Roland said the county intends to transfer $20 million from the General Fund to a Capital Reserve Fund and still expects to retain about a 40% fund balance; he said the county plans to finance about $75.6 million of the FHS project and will not finance the Highlands project.

The board voted 3-2 to approve a guaranteed-maximum-price (GMP) amendment-related contract with Carroll Daniel Construction for $411,644 to allow construction-manager-at-risk work to proceed. The same 3-2 vote approved a $238,081 contract amendment for architect LS3P. A separate LS3P summer-work contract was approved 4-1; the transcript lists the summer amount inconsistently (it appears as $16,643 in one place and $16,463 in another), and minutes record the board approved the summer work authorization in that vote.

Several commissioners urged more review. Commissioner Shearl said he would not vote for a project ceiling without seeing detailed plans and having time to consult constituents; Commissioner Young and others had asked for a work session and a question-and-answer opportunity with architects and construction staff. Chairman Shields and Commissioner Antoine argued delays would jeopardize summer sequencing and campus safety, with construction representatives saying summer approvals were necessary to prevent displacement of agricultural classes and to meet schedule targets.

Emily Kite of LS3P provided a line-item estimate that attributed roughly $124.9 million to construction costs, about $6.86 million to furniture, fixtures and equipment, and about $5.7 million to soft costs. County Attorney Eric Ridenour told the board the evening’s approvals were limited contracting actions and did not represent final sign-off on full construction financing.

Todd Gibbs of Macon County Schools reported geotechnical problems at the Highlands soccer field—historic pond and swamp muck, multiple inlet streams and spring heads—that likely require removal and replacement of contaminated material or an engineered drainage/rehabilitation solution to avoid recurrent failures.

The Board of Education has prepared a standard Memorandum of Understanding for East Franklin School (to be delivered for commissioner consideration June 11) and requested the commissioners sign a joint letter supporting public education funding. The commissioners recessed to a budget work session scheduled for June 4.

Votes at a glance: - Enter into contract with Carroll Daniel Construction (GMP amendment 1) for $411,644: motion by Commissioner Young, seconded by Commissioner Antoine; vote 3-2 (Antoine, Shields, Young yes; Higdon, Shearl no); outcome: approved. - Enter into contract amendment with LS3P for $238,081: motion by Commissioner Young, seconded by Commissioner Antoine; vote 3-2 (Antoine, Shields, Young yes; Higdon, Shearl no); outcome: approved. - Enter into LS3P summer-work contract (summer amount listed inconsistently in minutes; board approved in a 4-1 vote): motion by Commissioner Young, seconded by Commissioner Antoine; vote 4-1 (Antoine, Shearl, Shields, Young yes; Higdon no); outcome: approved.

What’s next: Vannoy Construction and the CM at risk will present additional costs for Highlands summer work at the June 11 regular meeting; the Board of Commissioners scheduled a budget work session for June 4 and may consider the Board of Education’s East Franklin MOU on June 11.