Greg Hook, ABSS Chief Operations Officer, mentioned the presentation from the last meeting was included in the agenda packet.
Mr. Hook said it would be helpful to look at some of those slides as he summarized the bond projects. He said that all of the bond sites were completed or near completion. He gave a bond funding update and explained additional required expenses.
Bond - Pleasant Grove Elementary
Remaining Work-
HVAC Tab report and final setup-done
Cameras Keycard- in progress
Vestibule and transaction window- in progress
Completed window replacement- awaiting change order
Remaining Funds-
Bond Funds -$1,242,157.20,
Remaining Expenditures $696,859.33
Unprocessed Expenditure- $150,751.99
Remaining - $394,545.88
Bond - South Mebane Elementary
Remaining Work-
Bid Leaking Roof Sections- Estimate $850,000
*will complete the roof system- will be short of funds
Remaining Funds-
$628,415.95
Bond - Graham High School
Remaining Work-
Install door hardware on security wall gates
Bid/Install new cameras and keycard access- estimate- $350,000
Panel replacement for ACC welders- estimate $60,000-$90,000
Paving back driveway- bid in February- short on funds (first bid $430K)
Remaining Funds-
Bonds Funds- $4,834,631.32
Remaining Expenditures- $407,145.79
Unprocessed Expenditures- $42,320.98
Roof Funds-$ 3,797,870
Remaining- $587,294.55
Bond- Southern High
Remaining Work-
Camera replace / Add Keycards- no funds- Est. $350K
Grading work to control water flow- contractor warranty
Security walls- Estimate $350K
Remaining Funds-
Bond Funds- $5,387,168.10
Remaining Expenditures-$329,738.24
Unprocessed Expenditures-$11,082.56
Roof Funds-$4,885,500
Remaining-$161,347.30
Bond – Eastern High
Remaining Work-
Bid/Install new cameras Keycard access-Estimate-$350,000
Cafeteria/CTE roofing issue-attorney involvement
Canopy extension to media center door
Additional walkway railing- in process
Remain change orders- Approximately $100K
Remaining Funds-
Bond Funds-$1,381,730.85
Remaining Expenditures-$259,076.27
Unprocessed Expenditures-$17,825.78
Remaining-$1,104,828.80
Bond – Western High
Remaining Work-
Cafeteria/CTE roofing issue- attorney involvement
Bid/Install new cameras and Keycard access- Estimate- $350,000
Keycard entry on security doors- in process
Remaining Funds-
Bond Funds-$610,813.71
Remaining Expenditures-$212,115.99
Unprocessed Expenditures
Remaining-$398,697.72
Bond- William High
Remaining Work-
Awaiting Final Tab Study
Awaiting Closing documents
Camera replace/Keycard- no funds- Estimate $350K
Remaining Funds-
Bonds Funds-$610,765.65
Remaining Expenditures-$518,750.32
Unprocessed Expenditures-$352.28
Remaining-$91,654.05
Bond- Cummings High
Remaining Work-
Cameras and keycard installation- in progress
Awaiting furniture for band/chorus
New intercom system- in progress
Band/Chorus storage shelving/racks-Estimate $65,000
Need HVAC controls for gym wing- Estimate $70,000
Remaining Funds-
Bond Funds-$1,980,855.48
Remaining Expenditures-$697,222.66
Unprocessed Expenditures-$19,191.19
Remaining- $1,264,441.63
Bond-Southeast High
Remaining Work-
Cameras and keycard installation- in progress
Completing auditorium sound system- complete end of Nov.
Carpentry CTE- need to complete equipment setup
Final cold weather TAB study
Unspent funds to stock the school- Approx. $332,000
Remaining Funds-
Bonds Funds-$4,766,649.12
Remaining Exp.-$2,351,882.81
Unprocessed Exp-$418,872.83
Road Widening Payback-$74,526.20
Remaining-$1,921,367.2
Commissioner Thompson said they had the decision whether they would fund this. She said she was planting the seed to use funds that were set aside for the courthouse renovation project from the $10 million revenue replacement from ARP funds.
Commissioner Turner asked about the bond projects and was concerned there was some "project creep". He said he was not discrediting any additional projects but they owed it to the residents of Alamance County to close out the bond projects based on their initial contractual scope. He suggested that it be prioritized.
Commissioner Lashley said 5 years had passed since the approval of the passage of the bonds. He continued that ABSS liked to compare themselves to Orange County. Commissioner Lashley provided some stats on the Orange County Schools Bonds. He said it should be a high priority to complete the bond projects. Commissioner Lashley asked if the bond projects would be completed before the next budget. Mr. Hook responded he was not sure because of the 2 roofing issues but they would be able to provide the figures needed for the budget. Commissioner Lashley said there needed to be a push to get those bond projects completed.
Vice-Chair Carter asked for clarification if the remaining items (security cameras and walls) were included in the bond projects. Mr. Hook replied when they had done promotional materials for the bonds there was a general list of items used for all the bond sites. He said the cameras were not put in the contracts. He said the items were held out to the end to see if funds would be available to process them. Vice-Chair Carter stated he was concerned about the cameras and keycards not being on the original contract.
Chairman Paisley said they kept coming up short. He asked who wrote the open-ended contracts for the mold remediation. Dr. Dain Butler, ABSS Superintendent, responded that the contract with Builder Services was an emergency. It was the only company that came to them and said they could do the job in the time that they needed it done. Dr. Butler asked the Board to take into consideration and fully fund ABSS $3.3 million to move forward and pay Builder Services the $5 million they owed them.
Commissioner Thompson interjected that they needed to decide what was needed that day to move forward with the funds.
Commissioner Turner asked County Manager York to review the options. County Manager York reviewed the funding options available.
Option 1 #
Remediation Costs:
$5,234,458.96 from previously committed ABSS capital reserve funds.
Pay-go:
No additional funding.
Option #2
Remediation costs:
$2,617,299.48 from the County Fund Balance
$2,617,299 from ABSS capital reserve funds. To be reimbursed by unspent bond funds.
Pay-go:
Advance $3,300,000 from the County Fund Balance.
Reimburse the County Fund Balance from sales tax allocation at the close of the year if possible.
Option #3
Remediation Cost:
Appropriate $5,234,458.96 from the County Fund Balance.
Paygo:
No additional funding.
ABSS may consider unspent bond funds for additional needs.
Option #4 (Commissioner Thompson's suggestion)
Use $10 million of the revenue replacement (ARP funding).
Commissioner Turner said in 45 days they would need to add a focus on recommendations that would be coming from 2 different engineering firms that will discuss the top 20 HAVCs and roofing repairs needed at ABSS and the county. He said they needed to have funds held back to tackle what was on that list.
Commissioner Turner said he proposed taking the $5.2 million out of the fund balance and using bond monies for the roofs and HVACs and using Chair Paisley's idea partially towards the $3.3 million. He suggested using the $1.8 million balance to cover the Alexander Wilson Elementary and E.M. Holt Elementary road projects, then using capital reserves to make it available to use at their discretion to cover the $1.8 million.
Chairman Paisley said Commissioner Turner was right in approximately 45 days the engineers will have the report. He said they would have to be cautious about giving away funds before the report was completed. Chairman Paisley commented that they needed to be responsible for the students, the parents, the taxpayers, and the entire county.
County Manager York said that the Board would need a motion to amend the budget so that they could disperse the $5.2 million to pay for the mold remediation. County Manager York also asked for a motion to allow the staff to amend the budget.
Commissioner Lashley said he would support the $1.2 million from the county fund balance because he believed it was a necessity. Vice-Chair Carter said he concurred with Commissioners Lashley and Turner.