By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
Two weeks after voters approved an Athens ISD $59.9 million bond proposal, the wheels began to turn Thursday on a projected two-year project. It is expected ground will be broken around May of the coming year at the four campuses earmarked for construction.
One item on the agenda concerned the method of delivery for the project. Superintendent Blake Stiles recommended the construction manager-agent method. “Having a manager-agent provides more transparency for our local vendors and more opportunities to use local vendors,” explained Stiles.
Several of the board members were pleased with the prospect of being more transparent throughout the bidding process than is possible with the manager-at-risk method. “When people bid on something and don’t get it, they want to know why they didn’t,” said Board President Robert Risko.
The benefits noted with the manager-agent delivery method also include more input during the design phase and an expedited construction schedule due to frequent and detailed project reviews. The board unanimously approved Stiles’ recommendation.
Trustees also approved an expenditure of $39,500 for Hearn Surveying Associates of Athens to provide the surveying and topographical services at the locations where construction is planned. Those sites are Athens High School; and Bel Air, South and Central elementaries. Chief Financial Officer Randy Jones explained that Hearn was actually the second-lowest bid, coming in at slightly more than a firm out of North Richland Hills.
“We feel there are benefits to doing business locally, including a quicker response time,” said Jones. “So we recommend going with Hearn Surveying.”
“Kudos to you for recognizing there’s a benefit to going with local people with a good reputation even though they’re a little higher,” said Board Member Alicea Elliott.
“Unless it’s a lot more,” responded Stiles, “one of our goals is to utilize our local companies as much as we can.” The board unanimously approved the expenditure for Hearn Surveying.