Board plans Piney gymnasium project

After opening bids for the Piney Creek School gym project on May 28, the Alleghany County Board of Education asked Superintendent Jeff Cox and others to negotiate costs with representatives with Blue Ridge Enterprises in Mt. Airy.

Slated to participate in that discussion with Cox are architects Randy Baker and Frank Williams with Pinnacle Architecture in Matthews and Piney Creek Gym Project Manager Dan Pardue. The Mt. Airy company bid $722,000 on the gym project, the lowest of three bids. According to a tabulation sheet provided by the board, the company estimated it could complete the task within 60 calendar days.

Other bids received by the board were from J.G. Coram Construction of Mt. Airy, $875,000 in 180 days and J.R. Vannoy & Sons of Jefferson, $995,000 in 150 days.

Speaking to the board members, Cox stated, "We've been discussing with the architects and Dan Pardue and Principal Mike Edwards some different alternatives of how we might be able to get the low bid down to what's in the budget."

Making reference to Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) figures, Cox noted that $625,000 was allocated to complete work on the school gym, the enclosment of the walkway and drainage correction and an additional $22,000 was allocated in a separate budget item for bleacher replacement. Using the $647,000 total, Blue Ridge Enterprises' bid of $722,000 is $75,000 over the amount the school system has in the budget for the project.

Baker commented, "I think the people at Piney Creek are looking for a building that is substantial, something that really looks like a building that's going to be there from now on. I really believe we can get it down to around the budget."

 

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