Goldsboro High parking lot to be resurfaced
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 18, 2016 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Board of Education has approved a $105,940 bid to resurface the Goldsboro High School parking lot at Beech and Jackson streets.
The project is a much-needed one, said Dean Sauls, assistant superintendent for support services.
"The beautiful cafeteria at Goldsboro High School is sitting there, but the parking lot looks like the moon surface, with craters in there," he told the board. "One particular pothole, when you come off Beech Street, will bury the front tire of your car.
"We had kept putting dirt and rocks in there. That's how bad it is."
A construction project begun at the high school in May 2015 had been completed this past spring. It included a large student commons area and a covered walking connecting the two buildings on campus.
The designated "small project" on the facilities plan experienced several obstacles along the way. Originally budgeted at $1.14 million, bids came in exceeding that amount, sending the board to the county commission to seek additional funding. The request was denied, forcing the district to rebid the project.
Then in September 2015, the board received an unexpected bill of $223,471 for "professional services" from Moseley Architects. The architect was a no-show at both the board meeting and a called meeting where Moseley representation was invited to address the concerns.
The board returned to the commission, asking for sales tax money to cover the tab and chalking up the Moseley bill to miscommunication and a "lesson learned" in dealing with contractors.
The completed project boasts an outdoor courtyard and a close resemblance to the historic high school -- the brick exterior and windows match those of the original structure, officials said.
The plan all along, bolstered by the crumbling asphalt, called for the adjacent parking lot to be repaved.
Sauls reported on the three bids received for the project.
Barnhill Contracting Company provided a very detailed, four-page explanation of services it would provide in its $105,940 bid.
"They went above and beyond and gave us everything we asked," Sauls said.
Asphalt Services of Pikeville, submitted a bid for $130,500, while Allen Grading Company of Goldsboro's bid came in at $137,680.
Sauls said the maintenance department recommended the board approve Barnhill to pave the parking lot in front of the cafeteria and the football stadium side of the school.
Board member Rick Pridgen made the motion to accept the Barnhill bid. Board member Arnold Flowers seconded it. The board voted to award the project to the Kinston firm.