Board names shared grant writer, sends Bulldog Stadium water/bathroom project back to committee to refine plans and budget

The board announced that Peyton Lanier will serve as a shared grant writer for the city, chamber and school district, with a start date in early May, and will report monthly to the partners and the district.

Administrators also updated the board on a long‑discussed Bulldog Stadium project to install running water, restrooms and a concessions area. The facilities committee presented opinion-of-probable-cost estimates (previous contractor estimates referenced in the packet ranged above $500,000 and a separate earlier estimate cited roughly $525,000). Administrators and board members discussed potential value-engineering options (simpler building materials, reusing existing fire-rated doors, phased approaches) and flagged site work and utility laterals as material drivers (excavation and lateral work estimates were discussed in the range of $50,000–$75,000).

Given cost concerns and budget realities, board members moved to send the proposal back to the facilities committee with clear directions to produce stamped schematics, a targeted budget ceiling and a short timeline (members suggested aiming for more detailed committee work by July 1). Administrators said Fund 46 (capital improvement) could cover the work and noted the fund balance is approximately $1.2 million, but the board sought a narrower range and an explicit spending threshold before authorizing design or construction work.

The board also discussed options to use local contractors and include local subcontractors in bid language to encourage community participation. Members emphasized they wanted to avoid an overly elaborate design and asked staff to develop lower-cost alternatives that meet code and function while avoiding unnecessary premium finishes.