Minutes

Construction Advisory Committee Meeting

February 26, 2007

Committee members met at the Fayette County Board of Education to discuss the ongoing construction occurring within the school system.

Mr. Lee Davis, Comptroller, welcomed the members to the meeting. Dr. John DeCotis, Superintendent, and Mr. Davis thanked everyone for coming to the meeting.

Mr. Klaus Darnall, Construction Manager, reported on the most recent FY2005 bond construction projects. The construction on Bennett’s Mill Middle School is still ahead of schedule. The facility is 80% landscaped, and ceiling grids are 80% completed. Lockers are 90% installed, marker boards are 95% installed, and the gymnasium is partially painted and lights are installed. The HVAC system’s generator is being looked at due to a bad motor in the unit. This generator is for the auxiliary unit which controls lights, fans, heating in the case of power outages.

At Fayette Middle School, the kitchen is progressing well. All of the concrete block walls have been constructed and painted. The HVAC trunk lines are being installed and conduit wire is being run throughout the serving lines and kitchen area. Floor tiles are being installed for the area.

At Brooks Elementary School, foundation walls, concrete block walls and wall frames are being installed. The outside brick is ready to be shipped, and will be stored on site when it arrives.

At Oak Grove Elementary School, the kitchen was bid out last Thursday, with two companies bidding for the project. The lowest bid was 0.18% over the proposed budget.

For proposed elementary school #1 (at Inman Road and Hwy 92), construction documents are being planned by the architect, and advertising for the bid for the school will begin next week. Mr. Darnell reported on many new code changes that are taking effect with new construction and the increase in pricing for new construction. He expects that steel prices will continue to increase, and lumber prices will decrease, as new housing construction is decreasing.

Mr. Davis spoke on the proposed legislation which will decrease funding for the capital outlay projects to 40%. For Fayette County, this will be the equivalent of a 2.4 million loss in state funding for new school construction. Further discussion ensued about the reasoning for these deductions. Our school lobbying groups are keeping pressure on the legislators to not go through with these proposals.

Mr. Mike Satterfield, Director of Facilities Services, spoke about the “10 year facilities plan” projects/special projects to be done for this summer. Mr. Satterfield mentioned that Sandy Creek High School’s track is now finished with rubber, and has been stripped. A problem with water collecting under the visitors’ bleachers, due to the water being siphoned out from under the track, is being corrected by installing a drain tile system. This situation continues to be evaluated so the asphalt and rubber from the track will not be damaged.

Mr. Satterfield also mentioned that a new pump station and sewer design from the North complex will tie into the sewer system of Tyrone during the late spring or summer. This switch is expected to be finished for the start of school, and will eventually save the school system undue costs. In addition, Mr. Satterfield clarified that Tyrone Elementary School has no problems with their operation, however has no building space to expand upon.

Mr. Davis updated the committee on the sale of the Phase II bonds. He mentioned that the school system is using traditional bonds, which will be priced on March 22, 2007, and if Board approved, will be scheduled for an April closing date. This phase will yield $30 million in funding.

Dr. DeCotis told the committee about the surplus property that the Fayette County School System would like to sell on Inman Road. As well, the Board will decide upon what to do with excess property behind Whitewater High School, encompassing 33.5 acres with a lake. The excess Whitewater property may be turned into wetland mitigation, and will be voted upon by the Board in the near future.

The meeting was adjourned. Dr. DeCotis thanked everyone for coming and stated that he hoped they enjoyed the meeting.