BY KARISSA MILLER
Iredell County commissioners on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to building Weathers Creek High School, but not for $143 million or in the two-phase approach approved by the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education.
During a special meeting, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a motion requesting that the school board reject the bid it approved two days earlier for the new high school and rebid the project. Commissioners also asked for the board to provide a breakdown of all the alternates in the project, such as athletic practice fields, the cost of turf fields and grass fields and athletic equipment.
Vice Chairman Bert Connolly, who made the motion, brought a no-nonsense attitude to the discussion.
“We have sat here for two hours, a cat chasing its tail. We are no further than we were four years ago on this project,” he said. “It (the motion) will force this project to get good pricing and gives us the opportunity to sit down with alternates and look — Can we afford the sports? Can we not afford the sports? If we can’t, we can nix the sports off. But I want to see the sports.”
“I know it’s a pain in the rear end. I understand that … We have to get it through this process. It’s the only way we can get this project done,” he added.
Connolly said, in an interview, that the commissioners realize that there is no guarantee that rebidding the project will result in a lower bid.
The I-SS Board accepted low bidder Monteith Construction for the base bid of $141,437,000 with the addition of 15 owner preferred alternates, bringing the total cost of the project to $143,152,200.
The board scaled back the project by $188,000 by excluding the guard shack.
The board added a caveat that the new high school project would be split into two phases due to funding challenges.
The Board of Commissioners has committed to financing $120 million for the new high school. The school will be funded through an $80 million school bond sale approved by voters in 2020, and $40 million in general obligation bonds.
“I want the public to know that this is not a $143 million school. By the time you include, FFE (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment) which is estimated to be $16.5 million and what’s already been fronted with architecture fees, you are looking at $166 to $177 million,” Connolly said.
Commissioner Brad Stroud also gave a hypothetical example of why a two-phase approach could be problematic.
He explained that around time a new I-SS elementary school would need to be built, the commissioners could be put in a situation where they have to decide between funding a new elementary school or Phase B of Weathers Creek High School.
“Hopefully, we can just get the specifics that we mentioned and get together, move forward and get this project done. The citizens expect that,” said Commissioner Gene Houpe.
County Manager Beth Mull explained that the Local Government Commission must approve a local government bond issuance. She said that the next target date for the LGC is January 2025 for a bond sale date in March.
Mull said that the county has a project ready for Mitchell Community College in January and by combining them it would save the county some money.
I-SS school board attorney Dean Shatley, who spoke on behalf of the school system, told commissioners that their action to delay the project by a couple of months would not bring it in on budget of $120 million.
I-SS Chairman Bill Howell said he wasn’t surprised by the decision and that the school district has brought the commissioners solutions, but many of those options were rejected. He said the next step is regrouping.
“I will go back to the board and see what their feelings are about this. I can’t speak for the board when it comes to a vote. We can ask the architect to do what they asked. We have 90 days and we can bring it back to the commissioners and hopefully that will answer some questions for them,” Howell said.
“You can pay me now or pay me later, if you pay me later, it’s going to be more,” he added.
Related
♦ I-SS Board awards $143.1 million bid for Weathers Creek High School
While it would be nice to see the school move forward and I personally like the phased approach it seems ISS dropped the ball by not having this broke down and in writing in advance. Especially the apparent verbal agreement of the architect and builder to phase it out.
Pay the contractors to submit a “best value” approach limiting the cost to $120 million or less. Let them be creative while living within the highest priority characteristics. They know where the architects have “beautified” the design or added higher cost attributes. Let’s get to building a school, not a museum.
$188k for a guard shack implies the expense of the entire project is hard to trust. I commend Mr. Connolly and the board for raising the red flag in an attempt to ensure the best effort has been made towards optimal pricing. Holding the needed vendors accountable with our tax dollars is essential and imperative.
Seems to me this is a southern end of the county problem…. they want a $143M plus high school, let them and the businesses down there pay for it!!!! The rest of us wisely voted NO to such absurdity in 2020. Why should my tax dollars go to pay for a school that my children won’t attend? I’m sure there are deep enough private pockets around the lake to make it happen for those who will reap the benefits of ISS’ newest “jewel”. See how citizens voted four years ago…
https://www.iredellfreenews.com/news-features/2020/how-iredell-voted-school-bonds-pass-brown-wins-six-candidate-gop-primary-for-three-seats-on-board-of-county-commissioners/
Why are my tax dollars paying for teachers that don’t teach my kids? Learn how local, state, and federal government works, you self-centered silly person.
Then why should any of my tax money (property, fire tax) go to the northern part of the County?
What is most troubling was the fact that school board member Anita Kurn went to the podium & stuck her foot in her mouth. Folks, if you want to know why there are delays, incompetent board members are the reason. If you don’t know what the school bond was & how it works or where your tax dollars are being spent you have no business on the school board. If you live in District 7, please consider running for school board in 2026.