By Charlotte Smith
The Bladen County Board of County Commissioners received an update on the Tar Heel School construction on Monday, March 7, during their regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also approved funding for East Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department.
Dr. Jason Atkinson, Superintendent of Bladen County Schools, was present with representatives on the Tar Heel School Project Team from Bordeaux Construction to update the commissioners. There were no Board of Education members present at the meeting.
The new school will hold an estimated 800 students. The plan is to merge Plainview Primary School students and Tar Heel Middle School students into one school, leaving enough room for new growth. Currently, there are 470 students total at Plainview Primary and Tar Heel Middle.
After being questioned by Commissioner Rodney Hester, Dr. Atkinson said that at this time, there is no intent to merge Dublin Primary School students into the new school.
[slideshow_deploy id=’233892′]
The new school will have a lot of “high-tech” equipment, such as solar panels and geothermal systems. Commissioner Cameron McGill raised concerns about emergency responders knowing how to work with the new technology. According to Dr. Atkinson and the Bordeaux Construction representatives, public safety training will be offered to first responders and school personnel for three years after the construction is complete.
Commissioner McGill and Commissioner Arthur Bullock raised concerns about the need for teachers. Dr. Atkinson explained a plan is in place to recruit more teachers and staff to accommodate the needs at the new school, and the building will be used as a teaching model for STEAM activities.
The new facility will be constructed on the empty lot that is already the school district’s property located behind Tar Heel Middle School.
The septic system project has been a cause for concern addressed at prior commissioner’s meetings. Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson said, “I want to know why they didn’t do an RFP. There are people here in Bladen County with the experience and credentials. The work should have been awarded to Bladen County people.” Commissioner Peterson’s question went unanswered.
Dr. Atkinson told the Board the new septic system is being installed, and the project will be operational by mid-April.
The district first estimated the project to be $22 million, but in January applied for additional grant funding from the state to have a total of $40 million awarded for the construction project. Dr. Atkinson stated the additional funding is for the solar panels and the geothermal systems. The Board of County Commissioners also awarded $7 million for the project.
“We’re just hopeful that obviously, we can get the 40 million from the public school capital fund,” Dr. Atkinson stated. The approval for the additional grant funding should be announced by March 15, 2022.
Commissioners Michael Cogdell and Dr. Opheila Munn-Goins asked how the change orders would work with the project.
“You will know the ceiling before the bids go out,” Matthew Boyette with the project team said.
Weekly update reports will be sent from the project team to Dr. Atkinson and the Board of Education members. Dr. Atkinson said he would forward the weekly update reports to Greg Martin, Bladen County Manager, so that he may forward them to the Board members.
The new school will open in August of 2023, according to the representatives from Bordeaux Construction.
Moving on to other business, the Board of Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding with East Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department presented by Nathan Dowless, Emergency Services Director. They also approved a fire department funding agreement and a mutual aid agreement with Acme Delco and Riegelwood Volunteer Fire Department. Both votes were unanimously approved.
In other businesses:
All consent items were approved unanimously.
The Board received an update from Dr. Teresa Duncan, director of Health and Human Services. The COVID numbers are down, but “We are not out of the Pandemic,” Duncan said.
An update was given from Chuck Huestess, Bladen County Economic Development Director. The Board planned a meeting with Huestess to discuss the economic development strategy. The meeting will be held at Cape Fear Winery on March 29 at 6 pm.
The Board approved a Capital Outlay Projects request from Bladen County Schools for $215,134.73.
Commissioner McGill asked the Board and press to attend a presentation at Harmony Hall. The Board agreed. A date is yet to be determined.
The Board appointed Erin Hinson to the Bladen County Regional Aging Advisory Council. They appointed Zack Campbell to the BARTS Advisory Council and Troy Cochran to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.
Mr. Martin presented the GREAT Grant Program partnership agreement with a focus on broadband. The Board approved it unanimously.
Commissioner Cogdell asked for an update from Trillium, the new MCO for Bladen County. A date for the update is scheduled for the next Board of Commissioners’ meeting.
Two Bladen County employees, Jose Gotay and Brenda Burney, who work with the Department of Social Services, were commended for saving a resident from an apartment fire at McLeod Village.
The County Calendar was also reviewed. Commissioner Peterson noted the Bladenboro Spring Fling is scheduled for April 2, 2022, and it needed to be added to the calendar. March 16, there will be a community prayer service on the courthouse lawn.
About Author
