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Henry County board approves $6 million to upgrade HVAC at three schools
Summary
The Henry County Board of Supervisors on March 24 approved a $6.0 million appropriation — $4.2 million from the county one-percent sales tax fund and $1.8 million from a School Construction Assistance Program grant — to upgrade HVAC systems at Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School, Sanville Elementary and the Career Academy.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors voted March 24 to appropriate $4,200,000 from the county’s one-percent sales tax fund and accept $1,800,000 from a School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) grant, a combined $6,000,000 to upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School, Sanville Elementary School and the Career Academy.
County Administrator Dale Wagoner presented the School Board’s request and noted the one-percent sales tax fund balance was stated in the meeting as $10,860,709.75. Chairman Jim Adams opened a public hearing on the appropriation; no members of the public spoke. The Board approved the appropriation on a motion by Supervisor Debra Buchanan, seconded by Dr. Pam Cobler; the vote was recorded in the minutes as AYES: Adams, Bryant, Buchanan, Cobler, Dillard, and Pruitt; NAYS: None.
Why it matters: the county said the funding will pay to upgrade HVAC systems at three schools, an investment in building systems that officials said supports learning environments and energy reliability. The request came from the Henry County School Board, which asked the county to appropriate unexpended local and grant funds for capital improvements.
Supporting details: wagoner told the Board that because the appropriation exceeds one percent of the County budget a public hearing was required. The SCAP grant funds and the one-percent sales tax funds were identified by the School Board as the source for the upgrades; copies of the request and grant documents are in the Board’s file.
Votes at a glance (recorded in the Board minutes): - School HVAC appropriation (one-percent sales tax $4,200,000 + SCAP grant $1,800,000): Approved. AYES recorded: Adams, Bryant, Buchanan, Cobler, Dillard, and Pruitt; NAYS: None. - DCJS Jail-Based Substance Use Treatment Grant appropriation ($73,560): Approved. Motion by Travis Pruitt, seconded by Dr. Pam Cobler; vote recorded unanimous AYES. - Performance agreement with FKC America Inc.: Approved unanimously after closed session; copy in Board file. - Deed of easement with Bassett Furniture Industries (Smith River public access off Trent Hill Drive): Approved unanimously after closed session; copy in Board file. - Rezoning R-26-03 (Timothy Clifford Stone): Approved; AYES recorded: Adams, Bryant, Buchanan, Cobler, Dillard, and Pruitt.
What the record does not resolve: the meeting minutes record AYES lists that include a “Bryant” in several votes though the opening roll call at the top of the minutes lists Board members as Jim Adams, Travis Pruitt, Chris Lawless, Debra Buchanan, Garrett Dillard, and Pam Cobler. The minutes show the vote tallies as recorded by the Board; membership or attendance questions are not resolved in the transcript.
Next steps: the county will proceed with procurement and project planning as required for the school HVAC upgrades; the Board had no further discussion during the session and adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
