Two offices may be added to the front of Macon Early College so a School Resource Officer can be on site and increase security at the building’s entrance. The Macon County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to spend $9,250 on architectural services to design that space on top of work already completed.
The Jan. 14 presentation by Project Manager Jack Morgan was about his inspection of MEC’s entry portico. The county previously hired Peter Looper of Looper Architectural Design and Planning to look at the building.
This look at Macon Early College started in February 2024 as now-former Commissioner Paul Higdon asked Morgan to inspect the supporting columns in front of the building, saying those are separating from the structure. The columns are not weight-bearing. In May 2024, the board approved spending $20,750 on Looper’s services. Morgan said there were issues with the brick piers and walls bordering it, the timber frame entrance and moisture damage caused by gutters turned toward the building.
On Jan. 14, Morgan said the project was ready to bid. However, MEC officials asked Morgan to look at enclosing their front porch.
Morgan said the school’s SRO is in Southwestern Community College’s Macon Campus building across the road. MEC officials want to move the SRO on campus, but there is no space inside the early college building.
The request also will help shore up a security concern MEC has.
“If some kid’s coming out, they’ll hold the door for you,” Morgan said.
The request was for Looper to add the enclosed MEC front to his scope of work for $9,250 and bid as an option/alternate. That means the commissioners won’t be obligated to include it in the previously approved maintenance work.
Interim County Manager Warren Cabe said he felt it was a prudent concern to put it in front of the commissioners. Since MEC is a county-owned building, it doesn’t come up on Macon County Schools’ capital outlay requests, Cabe told the board. Also, Cabe said this work won’t hinder future use of the space if SCC ever decides to leave that Macon campus.
Commissioner Danny Antoine said MEC “absolutely needs” this extra space. Commissioner Gary Shields, a former principal, stressed the importance of completing school security projects.
Commissioner Barry Breeden asked if these two offices would change the scope of the original work. Morgan said since adding the two offices would remove the columns, it would.