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Supervisors reject $4.7 million draw for Lee Wade Elementary HVAC and energy upgrade amid procurement concerns
Summary
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors voted down a staff recommendation to allocate borrowing proceeds for an ABM contract to replace Lee Wade Elementary’s HVAC and complete energy upgrades, with five supervisors raising procurement and cost‑control concerns and supporters citing safety and timing.
Franklin County supervisors on March 17 declined to authorize a draw from the 2025 borrowing to fund an ABM contract for Lee Wade Elementary’s HVAC replacement and energy‑efficiency work, after a heated debate over procurement, mobilization payments and the timing of urgent repairs.
Staff presentations described a bundled scope of HVAC replacements and energy upgrades the schools had prioritized; staff and school officials said the proposal included recent contract edits — notably a reduction of the initial mobilization payment to 25% and the addition of liquidated damages and a guaranteed energy‑savings amount cited in the packet.
Supervisor Meredith moved to approve the funding; Supervisor Mitchell seconded. In the roll call, Mitchell, Meredith and Carter voted yes; Jameson, Quinn and Tatum voted no; Chair Lori Smith cast the tie‑breaking vote against the motion and it failed.
Opponents argued the contract contained high upfront mobilization terms and exclusions (asbestos, third‑party fuel tank disposal and possible fire‑alarm work) that could produce unpredictable change orders and that the county — as funder — should seek competitive bids to protect taxpayer dollars. Supervisor Jameson said he would not sign “the contract the way the contract is written,” citing concerns about paying for equipment before it’s on site and gaps around hazardous‑materials or boiler/fuel handling. Supervisor Quinn described the situation as a breakdown of planning and said taxpayers should not bear potential overpayment when a competitive procurement may have produced lower prices.
Supporters cited an urgent need for reliable HVAC at the school and the risk of delayed replacements. Several supervisors and staff acknowledged there was not enough lead time to competitively rebid a full renovation and discussed interim approaches: contracting limited, targeted repairs this summer to address urgent safety or reliability issues while planning a broader procurement process for bundled school projects in a later cycle.
Staff said the ABM contract amount in the packet was presented as roughly in the mid‑millions (the transcript shows the figure read into the record as "$4,73,610", which staff and supervisors characterized as just over $4 million); ABM had proposed guaranteed annual energy savings reported in the packet. After the failed motion staff and the chair agreed to reconvene with school leadership (Dr. Sears) to identify near‑term safety work and longer‑term procurement options, including the possibility of bundling multiple school projects and pursuing a competitive process.
What the vote means: The board did not authorize the requested borrowing draw for the ABM contract; staff will work with the school division on next steps, including potential targeted emergency repairs for this summer and a more deliberate procurement for major capital work going forward.
