Project concerns arise at meeting
Elementary consolidation dominates talk
MIFFLINTOWN–Members of the Juniata County School District Board of School Directors discussed a number of items regarding the elementary school consolidation project during their meeting Thursday evening.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Daniel Love presented the board with concerns regarding the elementary school consolidation project, asking the board to table the items regarding the boiler plant upgrade.
Love explained he’d been told at a past meeting that Reynolds Building Solutions was working in holds with the contract with the county. However, in a private meeting, he learned otherwise.
Scott Etter informed Love that he may have been the source of the misinformation at a previous meeting. Etter clarified that Reynolds Building Solutions are contracted for consulting only and that there will need to be a public bidding process in order for someone to obtain a contract for construction.
During the voting period, the board approved Reynolds to budget a cost not to exceed $77,797.50 for a one-to-one boiler replacement at Lack-Tuscarora Elementary School.
However, Erin Derr moved to table the items pertaining to a budget for the boiler plant upgrade, as well as the fuel switch from No. 2 oil to on-site propane gas at Lack-Tuscarora Elementary School, until the meeting in November.
Yarger explained approving these items does not tie them to any companies. It just helps the board understand how they will budget in the Spring.
“If we table these items now, it can be asked later in the year to budget for them,” Yarger explained.
Danny Snyder seconded Derr’s motion and the board agreed to table the items.
Also at the meeting, the board voted on a motion to bring back breakfast to elementary classrooms. The program would be in place for a 30-day period, and then the board would decide to either continue or discontinue the program.
With four votes of no, the motion failed.
The following items were approved by the board at the meeting:
¯ Completion of a geothermal conductivity test at the Monroe Elementary School site in the amount of $12,250. This work includes installing two 425-foot geothermal test wells that will become part of the functional geothermal well system for the project, similar to the test wells the district approved for East Juniata and Juniata high schools;
¯ Completion of a geothermal conductivity test at the Fermanagh-Mifflintown Elementary School site in the amount of $12,250. This work includes installing two 425-foot geothermal test wells that will become part of the functional geothermal well system for the project, similar to the test wells the district approved for East Juniata and Juniata high schools;
¯ Contracting with I’m The Guy, LLC for completion of a wall anchor system in order to permanently stabilize foundation walls at the District’s property located at 146 Weatherby Way, Mifflintown, at a cost of $16,850;
¯ Contracting with CSE-Mills for installation of a corresponding heat pump system in a Juniata High School classroom at a cost of $15,187;
¯ A one-year maintenance services agreement with NRG Building Services Inc., at a total cost of $15,525;
¯ A contract with BK Kauffman Construction LLC for the required excavation and installation of a trench drain at the District’s property located at 146 Weatherby Way, Mifflintown, at a cost of $9,532.
COMMENTS