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County executive corrects record, says Wamble's Feb. 17 courthouse design claims were false
Summary
Giles County Executive Graham Stowe submitted a formal correction at the March 16 commission meeting, saying Commissioner David Wamble's Feb. 17 statements about the courthouse HVAC and plumbing designs were inaccurate and that OHM's Option 3 incorporated Wamble's recommendations; Stowe cited a $5.1 million preliminary estimate for Option 3 and described material choices as part of later value engineering.
Pulaski, Tenn. — Giles County Executive G. S. (Graham) Stowe asked the commission on March 16 to correct the public record regarding statements made by Commissioner David Wamble at the Feb. 17 meeting about the courthouse restoration.
Stowe submitted a written correction saying Mr. Wamble’s Feb. 17 comments — including claims that OHM ignored his recommendations for HVAC cost savings and that plumbing was specified entirely in copper without a PEX option — were false or misleading as stated. Stowe wrote that OHM produced an Option 3 that incorporated Wamble’s HVAC suggestions (including rooftop-mounted condensers and reuse of existing ductwork) and that OHM’s preliminary estimate for that option was $5.1 million.
Stowe also explained the design process for plumbing materials: preliminary design cost estimates are intentionally conservative and specific material substitutions such as copper versus PEX are evaluated during final design and value-engineering, not during preliminary design. Stowe said those timing and process points had been explained to commissioners on multiple occasions.
The correction letter stated that OHM’s Option 3 text explicitly described replacing high-velocity units and reusing ductwork; Stowe said those passages were lifted verbatim from OHM’s report and provided to commissioners. He added that Commissioner Wamble had voted against Option 3 in October, and that the record should reflect that Wamble’s input had been incorporated into Option 3 rather than ignored.
The minutes record Stowe’s correction and characterization of Wamble’s prior statements as false; the transcript does not include an on-the-record rebuttal from Commissioner Wamble during the March 16 session.
Stowe concluded that maintaining an accurate public record is important because the county and OHM will continue into final design phases and incorporate refinements, and he asked the commission to note the correction in the official minutes.
