Orange County NC Website
architects how much money you have and what you can afford, they will bring forth a <br />design that will work. He thanked Commissioner Jacobs for this proposal. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that, if the Commissioners will not support the school <br />board's $33.9 million proposal, then she would like to put forward the figure of $32.3 <br />million for the high school. She compared this amount to the cost of building the school <br />at the Eubanks Road site, if the land cost is included. She thinks this amount is what it <br />would take to build this school at the Eubanks Road site. She suggested in <br />Commissioner Jacobs' proposal, #5, that the lowest amount be $30 million without <br />conditions and the higher amount be $32.3 million with conditions. She thinks the <br />County Commissioners should give the school board the money and tell them to go out <br />and build the school. <br />Chair Brown said that she wants the high school to be built as soon as possible, but it <br />has varied over time. She was never in favor of the eminent domain issue. This could <br />put the County in a difficult financial situation. She sees this facility as an important <br />piece of construction for the CHCCS board. But she has to listen to John Link and when <br />the final proposal came, the Manager did not recommend the amount of money the <br />school system wanted. She said that this proposal by the school board could damage <br />the County's fiscal situation in the next few years. It is clear that adopting this full <br />proposal would also put the school system in a position of not being able to do the <br />renovations and maintenance necessary to maintain the existing schools. She agrees <br />with Commissioner Halkiotis in that we can give money to the architect and they will <br />deliver a wonderful high school. She said that all could work together to build a school <br />that will live up to the expectations. She gave her support to the motion on the floor. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked if anyone else supported her suggestion of changing <br />section #5 of Commissioner Jacobs' proposal from $27.8 million without conditions to <br />$30 million without conditions. She argued strongly that the standards are essentially <br />$30 million and the County should allot this amount. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that the way he reads it is that the Manager, <br />Superintendent Neil Pedersen, the Chair of the school board, and the Chair of the Board <br />of County Commissioners need to meet to discuss the finer points of #5. He likes this <br />smart growth school model. He is also worried that the owner of the land has no <br />intentions of taking only $1.5 million far this land. <br />Commissioner Carey asked to hear from school board members, if they like. <br />Superintendent Neil Pedersen said that they need a decision as soon as possible, but he <br />struggles with this as a motion. He sees five different suggestions as to ways to go <br />about it. He asked for clarification that the motion would basically be for $30 million for <br />the third high school with the plans subject to approval by the County Commissioners <br />and the County Manager. Within the $30 million, they may need to re-look at capacity <br />and core to meet projected growth needs. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that there are five alternatives but #5 essentially says that <br />the school board should figure it out and let the Board of County Commissioners know <br />what they are doing. <br />