By Betsy Finklea
The Dillon County Board of Education was updated on the school facilities projects at their meeting last week.
Chairman Richard Schafer said there was a $10 million add-on request to include other projects, but they did not know whether or not they can do it. The board would have to borrow the funds to fulfill the request.
Schafer said BB&T and Walter Goldsmith have the request. He said the key thing is whether or not anyone would loan them the money.
Another meeting on this is being held on June 29th to further discuss the issue.
Under the law, the board can borrow up to $60 million, said Schafer, and had already borrowed $49 million. He said just because they had the ability to borrow the money didn’t mean that they can pay for it.
Rodney Alexander of Cumming Southern Management updated the board on the projects. The demolition at Lake View High School/Middle School is 95 percent complete, and the building pad is 95 percent complete. They are removing asbestos. The building layout has started.
At Dillon Middle School, the building pad is ready to go and both taps for water are complete.
At the Latta Early Childhood Center, the building pad is also complete, and they have started bring materials in to start the layout for the building.
Alexander said one problem they have had to deal with is subcontractors walking away from their commitments and escalating prices. It is now estimated that there is a $1.2 million price increase across the board above what was approved.
The estimated completion dates for the projects are: Lake View High School/Middle School-April 26, 2012; Dillon Middle School-July 13, 2012 (Tennis Courts: August 2011); and Latta Early Childhood Center-May 23, 2012.