By a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner John Shearl against it, the Macon County Board of Commissioners approved $20,000 for analysis and data projects for the proposed Franklin High School project.
The first project is a slope stability analysis of the Frogtown property north of the main campus, and the second is to gather more stormwater infrastructure data along Wayah Street in the stadium area. The motion to approve included three action items, the third being creating a budget amendment for an amount “not to exceed $20,000” from contingency funds.
The Aug. 8 meeting packet stated the plan is to complete the project before school starts on Aug. 28.
County Manager Derek Roland said adjustments in the FHS site design require the Frogtown property be filled with dirt during the project. These tests aim to see if the slope is stable enough to handle dirt fill or if it needs extra stabilization. The scope of work by Kessel Engineering will cost $11,500.
Emily Kite of LS3P, the county’s architects, said the Frogtown property was not surveyed originally when the rest of the FHS property was.
“The steepness of that property presented a challenge with regards to getting a drill rig out there,” Kite said of efforts to get core samples, which she said has now morphed into getting soil samples.
When asked by Board Chair Paul Higdon if the soil analysis is necessary, Kita said LS3P’s engineers recommended the work to test if the soil can support the weight and volume or if additional stability measures are needed. Commissioner Josh Young later said the project essentially encompasses building roads for a driller at five points on the Frogtown property.
For the second project, Kite says LS3P wants stormwater infrastructure data and how it would impact Wayah Street and the intersection with Phillips Street along the edge of the property in the stadium area. That cost came in at $8,000 from Sprinkle Surveying.
Shearl asked Kite which of the two phases these new projects impact. Kite responded that the Frogtown work would mainly be for Phase 2, the planned school building work north of Panther Drive, while the stormwater data work would be for Phase 1, the stadium area south of Panther Drive.
Shearl did not explain his “no” vote during the meeting, but when later asked for comment, said the following: “I have stated in previous meetings that I don’t think the current site is sufficient for a new school. The state says we need a minimum of 33 acres for a new high school. I think if and when a new high school is built, it should be done for the future, and we should have acreage for growth. I believe we are trying to cram this project into a property that is not adequate. At least one of my fellow commissioners agreed that this is not the best place to build a new high school. I believe when we are talking about spending $100 million of taxpayers hard earned money, we must get it right. Some of these buildings are less than 30 years old and we are going to take a wrecking ball to them. I believe the current high school buildings would work great for a Macon County government complex, if and when a new high school becomes a reality. This is why I voted “no” on spending more money on this site.”
At the Franklin Chamber’s “Eggs and Issues” event on Aug. 4, Roland said LS3P will give the new FHS project estimate this fall.