By Jamie Gardner
According to Superintendent Scarlett Copeland and Maintenance and Operations Director Winton Herrin, the Army Corp of Engineers has informed the Appling County Board of Education that a ditch that was covered over adjacent to the Appling County High School (ACHS) baseball field must now be uncovered. In a letter (below) from Herrin to Copeland presented at the board’s monthly meeting held on September 12, Herrin explains that the ditch has to be restored.
Ditch must be uncovered
“As you are aware we have been negotiating with the US Army Corp of Engineers the mitigation of an area adjacent to the baseball field which was filled in during Mr. Herndon’s tenure as superintendent. The area of concern was a ditch that was dug during construction of the baseball field and subsequently filled in at a later date. According to the USACOE the ditch had been shown on wetland maps as a jurisdictional wetland and should not have been filled in.
In order to avoid a penalty (possibly up to $2,000,000.00 according to the USACOE representative) the board’s engineering firm negotiated a settlement, which only requires the board to restore the ditch to its original state. There are very specific guidelines for the restoration project, which includes special seeds, bank matting and other specialized requirements. In conjunction with our architects and engineering firm I believe it is in the best interest of the board to utilize the existing construction management firm and sub contractor already on site to perform this task, especially since we already have insurance and bonding coverage on them. I have asked the CM to obtain pricing from the sub contractor on site as well as obtain a control price from an alternative source. The prices are listed below.
According to the engineering firm it is important for us to have this project completed as soon as possible. The funding will come from existing ESPLOST funds. I would like to request immediate approval to initiate this project.”
Board members voted unanimously to move forward with bidding the project out to allow for the area to be restored.
Other business
White Water Aquafarms representative Randy Coleman honored Jim Galvin, ACHS Agriculture Advisor/Teacher, during the meeting. Coleman expressed appreciation to Galvin for his work in the area of aqua farming at ACHS.
Board members approved a request that will allow the board to attend the 15th Annual Community-wide Planning Retreat to be held October 27 - 28.
Board member Scottie Ammons who was tasked with scheduling board member training for the upcoming year presented the annual schedule for review and approval. The board approved the training schedule.
Under personnel the board approved the following recommendations. Sherry Scott was hired as a bus driver for the system. Jessika Stone was approved as the new data clerk at Altamaha Elementary School. Sabrina Wilkerson was hired as the new Special Education Administrative Assistant at the Central Office.
The board approved a request to provide a supplement for the position of show choir director at Altamaha Elementary School.
Fundraisers for Special Education, Skills USA and FFA were unanimously approved.
The board approved the Local Plan for Career Technical and Agricultural Education Programs.
The resignation of Janice Harrelson, a secretary at ACHS, was approved. The board also approved to open this position and accept applications.
Information on changes to Policy BCBD and Policy JGCD were given.
The board voted to enter into a closed-door session for real estate and personnel purposes. No action was taken.
In order to avoid a penalty (possibly up to $2,000,000.00 according to the USACOE representative) the board’s engineering firm negotiated a settlement, which only requires the board to restore the ditch to its original state. There are very specific guidelines for the restoration project, which includes special seeds, bank matting and other specialized requirements. In conjunction with our architects and engineering firm I believe it is in the best interest of the board to utilize the existing construction management firm and sub contractor already on site to perform this task, especially since we already have insurance and bonding coverage on them. I have asked the CM to obtain pricing from the sub contractor on site as well as obtain a control price from an alternative source. The prices are listed below.
According to the engineering firm it is important for us to have this project completed as soon as possible. The funding will come from existing ESPLOST funds. I would like to request immediate approval to initiate this project.”
Board members voted unanimously to move forward with bidding the project out to allow for the area to be restored.
Other business
White Water Aquafarms representative Randy Coleman honored Jim Galvin, ACHS Agriculture Advisor/Teacher, during the meeting. Coleman expressed appreciation to Galvin for his work in the area of aqua farming at ACHS.
Board members approved a request that will allow the board to attend the 15th Annual Community-wide Planning Retreat to be held October 27 - 28.
Board member Scottie Ammons who was tasked with scheduling board member training for the upcoming year presented the annual schedule for review and approval. The board approved the training schedule.
Under personnel the board approved the following recommendations. Sherry Scott was hired as a bus driver for the system. Jessika Stone was approved as the new data clerk at Altamaha Elementary School. Sabrina Wilkerson was hired as the new Special Education Administrative Assistant at the Central Office.
The board approved a request to provide a supplement for the position of show choir director at Altamaha Elementary School.
Fundraisers for Special Education, Skills USA and FFA were unanimously approved.
The board approved the Local Plan for Career Technical and Agricultural Education Programs.
The resignation of Janice Harrelson, a secretary at ACHS, was approved. The board also approved to open this position and accept applications.
Information on changes to Policy BCBD and Policy JGCD were given.
The board voted to enter into a closed-door session for real estate and personnel purposes. No action was taken.
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