MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Monday, February 12, 2007, in the Board of Education’s Board Room at the Margaret E. Gragg Education Center in Boone, NC. Those present were: Chairman Deal, Vice-Chairman Winkler, Commissioner Cooper, Commissioner Kinsey, Commissioner Moretz, County Manager Nelson, Assistant County Manager Geouque, and Clerk to the Board Fogle. Members of the School Board present were Mr. Lowell Younce, Mr. Steve Combs, Ms. Deborah Miller, Dr. Lee Warren, and Mr. Ron Henries. Dr. Bobbie Short, Watauga County Schools Superintendent; Mr. Mark Hurst, Associate Superintendent; Mr. Paul Miller, School Board Attorney; and Ms. Jennifer Combs, Secretary to the Superintendent, were also in attendance.
The joint meeting was called to order at 7:09 P.M.
Ms. Jennifer Sisak, with SfL+a Architects, gave a report on progress to date on the new high school project. Ms. Sisak reviewed several proposed general site plans for the new school and stated that several studies were ongoing at the new high school site, including a geological study, a wetland delineation, a cultural resource study, a traffic study, etc. Ms. Sisak stated that at this time the parameters of the project included a $65,000,000 budget with $55,000,000 dedicated to construction. A scheduled completion date was set for spring of 2010 with a planned summer move in and fall occupancy by students and staff. Ms. Sisak also stated that interviews had been held for a Construction Manager at Risk firm.
Chairman Deal and School Board Chairman Younce, representing the education sub-committee, stated that the sub-committee recommended General Site Plan C and recommended employing Barnhill-Vannoy for construction manager at risk services. The construction manager at risk services were to be in two phases with the first phase consisting of the design and pre-construction services (the fee was to be a flat rate); and the second phase consisting of the post-design and construction services (the fee was to be part of the maximum price).
Commissioner Moretz, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to employ Barnhill-Vannoy as construction manager at risk for the new high school project and authorized the County and School Board attorneys to negotiate and prepare the appropriate contracts.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to approve General Site Plan C for the new high school project.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to amend the Board of Commissioners’ agenda to include a closed session to discuss Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(5)(i) in the conference room at the Margaret E. Gragg Education Center.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
CLOSED SESSION
At 7:50 P.M., Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(5)(i).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to resume the open meeting at 8:16 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
A brief discussion was held regarding Department of Transportation involvement in the new high school project. This discussion was for information only and therefore no action was taken.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 P.M.
Jim Deal, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board