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Cascade High project $74K under budget

By DAWN HANKINS ~ dhankins@t-g.com
Posted 10/21/19

Cascade High School building project final numbers are under budget by $74,000, architect John Davis informed Bedford County Board of Education last Tuesday night. "The good thing is, we get down here to the bottom, it looks like we've got a little to spare . . . $74,000," said Davis. "That's the way I look at it. We had $23,775,000, so we are about $74,000 under that."...

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Cascade High project $74K under budget

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Cascade High School building project final numbers are under budget by $74,000, architect John Davis informed Bedford County Board of Education last Tuesday night.

"The good thing is, we get down here to the bottom, it looks like we've got a little to spare . . . $74,000," said Davis. "That's the way I look at it. We had $23,775,000, so we are about $74,000 under that."

This would bring the entire Cascade High project, which took a little over two years to complete, to $23,701,000, based on Davis' figures.

BCBE chairperson Glenn Forsee called the project "a beautiful school," before requesting Davis come before the board and present his final cost amounts.

*** 'Favorable'

"The final numbers came in very favorable," said Davis. "The Sain Construction portion . . . $21 million. The majority of those [21] change orders were for shot rock to go under soft spots we found under roads and buildings."

Forsee mentioned during the business meeting that $410,728 for furniture and other classroom equipment expenses, also shown in Davis' analysis, were absorbed through the board's capital outlay fund, not within the bond issue. Board members were advised by Davis this area came under budget as well, by about $40,000.

With Cascade high schoolers moving out of the middle school facility down the road, BCBE had estimated these furniture expenses, particularly in science and technology areas.

County Finance Director Robert Daniel was at a Bedford County Commission committee meeting last Tuesday night and was not in attendance. Davis said he's checked with Daniel and believes the numbers from his firm are up-to-date and in line with those in Daniel's office.

*** Local help

The architect said Curl Construction did a great job on sewerage work at project cost to BCBE/County in the amount of $450,530. There was one $13,000 change order submitted from Curl due to the size of pumps and changing electrical work, Davis reported.

"That was a good local contractor for us," Davis said. "Their kids go to school out there at Cascade."

Additional sewer costs were for engineering, state review and inspection fees and surveying, bringing the final sewerage total to $496,886.

One of the greatest savings was through materials testing, Davis said. He explained to board members how $80,000 was originally estimated but actual cost was $43,000.

Design fees also came slightly under budget, as presented by Davis. Originally budgeted at $1 million, architect work will actually cost BCBE $998,499.

*** Architect's fees

That same design line item by Davis Stokes Collaborative included a 4.2 percent architect/engineer fee on total project construction cost, which amounted to $900,000. Other costs associated with design fees were for soil surveying, food service design, various state fees, print advertising and a geological report.

The security and technology line item, Davis reported, has come in a little over $689,000, which is nearly $100,000 less than originally estimated. He credited Ben Barrett, schools supervisor of technology, and his team, for doing a great job at Cascade High. (Look for a story on the school system's newest technology program in Thursday's T-G.)

The board's contingency fund was $205,621 and non obligated funds totaled $362,000 at the outset of the building program. These set aside funds have helped off-set some additional costs for items such as water.

At the end of Davis' report, board member Michael Cook asked if there are any potential legal fees to be incurred, now that the project has ended.

Davis said contractors are typically obligated for one year from completion date to repair or complete projects within the school.

*** Final dates

Davis gave the following substantial 2019 completion dates: Sain Construction July 19; Curl Construction July 25; and the Town of Bell Buckle's Sept. 1.

"There's always some potential there for the next year," said Davis. "Things could happen."

Superintendent Don Embry asked about punch list items, that is those items that are kind of tying up loose ends on the project. Davis said he's gone over revised punch lists, which includes some drainage issues, which will need to be done to finalize the project.

"There's a good bit of site work; we fought through the rainiest 18 months we've ever had here. Then it dried up to the point of powder dry. There's some site work that's going to have to happen. That happens on every one of these jobs; put all that soil back in place in heavy rains and grass gets established."

Davis said there's one outstanding change order from the Town of Bell Buckle submitted for utility work in the amount of $36,000. He told BCBE members that he's "argued" with the town officials and is working to get the amount of that change order reduced.

"Bell Buckle decided the way they operate their system ... had to be changed. We're in the process of trying to fine-tune those numbers."

*** Last project

This will likely be Davis' last school building project with BCBE, at least for a while. He noted during the meeting that the 30-year working relationship with the board has been a good one.

During Tuesday night's business meeting, BCBE members advised they are checking with their attorney Chuck Cagle and based upon his recommendation, may pursue further action with Bedford County Commission on its recent decision to remove BCBE authority to select school architects.

The county has moved forward with its decision to select one architect for all professional services in the county. Through review of qualifications recently, Kline Swinney Associates was chosen as the new county architect, which will also oversee school building projects.

Kline Swinney submitted in its application how it is currently working on the new Williamson County middle school. The design firm stated it has completed 58 educational projects for Metro Nashville since 1978.

Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham, a former school board member, said recently in a letter to BCBE, "Bedford County government has a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers to ensure the highest standards and qualifications are sought when selecting professional services for Bedford County."