Work is progressing on the new gymnasium at Piney Creek School.

Work on Piney Creek gym roof is set to begin in October

Work on the roof of the Piney Creek Gym, a project funded through Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) funds, is expected to begin around the first of October, according to Project Manager Dan Pardue.

Work on the project began during the first full week of August, he said during the Board of Education's Sept. 3 meeting. Pardue told the board, "The good news is that we've started. They're into their fourth week now…it's a 90-day schedule and they're probably a few days behind schedule because there's so much demo. All the interior footings have been poured. They're working on the exterior footings, putting masonry around the outside. Once the masons get started, it should start moving…So far, so good right now."

At the end of May, three companies vied for the job, including J.G. Coram Construction of Mt. Airy, Blue Ridge Enterprises of Mt. Airy and J.R. Vannoy & Sons of Jefferson. Blue Ridge Enterprises offered the lowest bid at the time, $722,000, compared to J.G. Coram Construction ($875,000) and J.R. Vannoy & Sons ($995,000).

Superintendent Jeff Cox negotiated with Blue Ridge Enterprises, which brought its contract price down to $549,000 toward the end of July. The contract was subsequently awarded to the Mt. Airy company. A breakdown of the revised cost included the $549,000 contract price, $37,500 in architect fees, which accounted for 6 percent of the original budget amount of $625,000, and a $9,100 contingency. It also included a $51,400 allocation to purchase two basketball goals (valued at $9,000) bleachers (valued at $28,000), portable stage equipment (valued at $12,000) and lockers and benches (valued at $2,400). The total budget of the project is $647,000.

Meanwhile, work on other QZAB projects continues.

According to information provided to the board members, the estimated cost of the projects at the four schools is $1,988,631. At present, the budget shows an unencumbered balance of $761,186.41.

At Alleghany High School, painting on the old gym interior, the replacement of the remaining side of bleachers and the replacement of carpet are among the projects that have been completed. In addition, Randy Baker or Frank Williams with Pinnacle Architecture in Matthews is to be contacted for specs on the cost of converting two classrooms into science labs.

 

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