Limestone board OKs loan for Blue Springs track

Published 5:44 pm Thursday, January 20, 2011

By Jean Cole
jean@athensnews-courier.com

Blue Springs Elementary School officials received permission Thursday night to borrow $20,000 from Limestone County Schools to begin work on a competition track.

“This loan would fund the dirt work, drainage and re-seeding for the competition, eight-lane track on the Blue Springs campus,” Limestone County Schools Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll said.

This will be the first phase of a two-phase project. The second phase will involve completing the base and asphalt, Carrol said. Blue Springs will repay the loan over the next four years by using $5,000 generated each year by the Spencer Black 5K Run, the superintendent said.

Project coordinator Gary van Wagnen told board members if the race failed to generate $5,000 over the next four years, the Clements High School Athletic Association has agreed to bridge the gap.

Board member Anthony Hilliard asked Finance Director Jonathan Craft if the loan was allowable, to which Craft replied, “It falls within the criteria of the policy (regarding loans).”

Van Wagnen said the $20,000 would not complete the project and that $40,000 more will be needed to complete the base and asphalt.

With that assurance, board members voted 7-0 to approve the loan.

The board rescinded a commitment to pay $2,500 to rent a West Limestone baseball field. The superintendent said the board had previously agreed to pay $2,500 to rent the field, and then former state Rep. Henry White, D-Athens, secured state money to pay the fee.

Board members tabled a request to pay a contractor $22,412 to increase the size of the dish room at Elkmont High School. The board had previously approved a bid to replace the dishwasher and accessories, he said. Renovations to the dish room and a new office for the manager would be included in the proposed renovations, Carroll said.

Board member Marty Adams asked if the schools had received offers from more than one contractor on doing the work, which will include moving a wall, redoing the floor and some plumbing. By law, the schools can select a contractor to do a public works project without seeking bids as long as the estimated cost is less than $50,000, Craft said.

Board President Earl Glaze said he would be okay with doing that this time, but he recommended the schools ask other contractors for prices in the future in order to secure the lowest possible price for the work.

“There are several companies around town that are in that line of work,” he said.

Board member James Shannon questioned whether the state requires drawings of the proposed work before it could begin. After a little more discussion, Carroll suggested the board table the matter until he ascertains whether the state needs to approve a drawing of the proposed renovation.

In other action, the board approved the following:

• Voted 6-1, with Adams dissenting, to begin holding school board meetings in the old City Council chambers beside the fire department on Marion Street in order to make them more accommodating to the public. The meeting night also will change from the first Monday of every month to the first Tuesday of every month because the chambers are not available some Mondays. The change takes effect Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.

• A bid on diesel fuel and gasoline and various contracts

• Financial statement for October, which is the end of the fiscal year

• Financial statement for November

• Request to adopt K-2 mathematics textbook

• Ardmore Cub Scout Pack No. 282’s request to use Cedar Hill gym Feb. 19 for annual Pinewood Derby

• Career Tech Center’s culinary team’s request to attend the FCCLA State Culinary Competition in Birmingham Feb. 4 and 5

• Robotics team’s request to attend Robotics Regional Competition Event in New Orleans from March 16 through 19

• Robotics team’s request to attend Robotics Regional Competition Event in Knoxville, Tenn., from March 30 to April 3

• Health Science students’ request to attend state HOSA leadership conference in Montgomery March 22 and 23

• East Limestone students’ request to attend state Beta Convention in Birmingham from March 16 through 18

• Physics team’s request to attend physics competition at University of Alabama Feb. 10 and 11

• Varsity girls soccer team’s request to attend Lakeshore Soccer Tournament in Birmingham Feb. 25 and 26

Also Thursday, board members hear a presentation about TRAIL — a student philanthropic program — during the superintendent’s report.

Blue Springs Elementary School officials received permission Thursday night to borrow $20,000 from Limestone County Schools to begin work on a competition track.

“This loan would fund the dirt work, drainage and re-seeding for the competition, eight-lane track on the Blue Springs campus,” Limestone County Schools Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll said.

This will be the first phase of a two-phase project. The second phase will involve completing the base and asphalt, Carrol said.Blue Springs will repay the loan over the next four years by using $5,000 genrated each year by the Spencer Black 5K Run, the superintendent said.

Project coordinator Gary van Wagnen told board members if the race failed to generate $5,000 over the next four years, the Clements High School Athletic Association has agreed to bridge the gap.

Board member Anthony Hilliard asked Finance Director Jonathan Craft if the loan was allowable, to which Craft replied, “It falls within the criteria of the policy (regarding loans).”

Van Wagnen said the $20,000 will not complete the project and that $40,000 more will be needed to complete the base and asphalt.

With that assurance, board members voted 7-0 to approve the loan.

Board member Marty Adams asked if the schools had received offers from more than one contractor on doing the work, which will include moving a wall, redoing the floor and some plumbing.By law, the schools can select a contractor to do a public works project without seeking bids as long as the estimated cost is less than $50,000, Craft said.

“There are several companies around town that are in that line of work,” he said.

In other action, the board approved the following:

• Voted 6-1, with Adams dissenting, to begin holding school board meetings in the old City Council chambers in Athens in order to make them more accommodating to the public. The change will not occur until after basketball season. See Saturday’s edition for more.