Board to rebid project at GHS
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 5, 2015 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Board of Education voted, albeit reluctantly, to proceed with rebidding a project to create a commons area at Goldsboro High School and also discussed an "emergency situation" with a hot water heater at North Drive Elementary School.
At its Monday meeting, the board approved plans to adjust the bidding and construction schedule, delaying the project by six months, in hopes of cutting some costs.
This is the latest twist in the exhausting effort to provide a place for students to congregate during lunch or before and after school during inclement weather.
The board had learned early last month that bids on the project came in higher than anticipated, forcing a decision on whether to come up with additional funds, cut corners on amenities or reject the bid.
At its April meeting, the board voted 5-2 to move on the project and seek half-cent sale tax money from the county commission. Dissenting votes were Board Chairman Chris West and Jennifer Strickland.
Officials made their case at the April 21 commission meeting, when the request was denied and the school board was asked to rebid the project.
Ashley Dennis, senior associate at Moseley Architects, said the company was prepared to advertise for bids as early as May 17, with a deadline of June 9. She told the board the construction schedule had also been adjusted per the facilities committee's request, with a completion date of April 2, 2016.
"Extending the schedule, we feel, will allow contractors to possibly lower the price," she said.
Board member Pat Burden asked what had been changed.
Ms. Dennis said most of the changes revolved around "minor aesthetics" and not the size of the commons area.
West said the rebid will include alternates that were taken out separately to give the board an idea of how much and where savings can be made. Examples included terrazzo floors, the highest item on the list, which were estimated to cost $46,000.
Board member Arnold Flowers made a motion to rebid the project with the more flexible time schedule and then see what the district can afford.
Board member Dr. Dwight Cannon said he was not ready.
"I'm baffled," he said. "Is that our last recourse? We have discussed this very deeply. One thing I haven't heard yet, I would like to echo and re-echo, that we really don't want to cut the flames of enthusiasm and excitement for those at Goldsboro High School.
"I don't want to lessen the artistic or aesthetics or the quality of the work so that we have to come back in five or 10 years. I think if we need to wait to do it right, then let's wait to do it right when the money's come in for the new budget year."
West said he did not believe the quality of work would be jeopardized by the rebid and delay.
Board member Pat Burden had strong feelings about the exclusion of a patio, except as an alternate, which would prevent her from supporting the motion.
"The patio was not part of the original work anyway," West said.
"It might be an alternate now but it wasn't an alternate when the original proposal was made to the district to do it," she said. "The original proposal was to connect it to the building, clean up the patio and build a commons area."
Board member Jennifer Strickland asked if the patio work could be done in-house, drawing an affirmative response from David Lassiter, maintenance director.
Board member Eddie Radford said he wanted the public to understand that the school board is not neglecting the project, but is trying to find a way to get the money or at least a lower bid.
Mrs. Strickland called for a vote for the motion on the floor.
Cannon said he still had more to say, prompting Flowers to ask if Cannon had another plan that would be more worthwhile.
When put to a vote, it passed 5-2, with Ms. Burden and Cannon in the minority.
"I'm not opposed to rebidding," Ms. Burden said. "I'm opposed, I really don't have a clear picture of how you're going to rebid -- what's going to be left out? I'm not feeling comfortable with what I'm hearing. If we were going to cut that patio, that should have been said somewhere.
"I just feel uncomfortable with it."
"Ms. Burden, I want you to be comfortable," Flowers said. "In the facilities (committee), we had a lot of discussion about the patio."
He said Lassiter had assured him the patio could be done as a small project by the district.
"I don't want to do the project without the patio. I don't want to do the project with terrazzo," he said.
Finance Officer Beverly Boltinhouse also made the board aware of an issue that had arisen over the weekend, with a water heater that was on its last legs.
"It has been leaking a lot," she said. "We know the water heater will not make it to the next board meeting."
She said they had secured one bid and hoped to get two more but since it was an emergency, sought board approval and could notify them once bids were received.
"I appreciate the sensitivity, but I really think that's a procedure I'm leery of it," Cannon said. "I'm leery to approve a bid without even having the other bids in. We can accept the information, but I'm not willing to vote."
Ms. Burden asked if there was a policy in place for such an emergency.
Mrs. Boltinhouse said she could poll the board once additional bids came in, but was concerned about the potential of having no hot water or dismissing school.
"If something happens before Wednesday, we'll have to address the issue but we need to stick to our three-bid policy," West said.