The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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Friday, October 26, 2012
By CHARLES BOOTHE - Staff Writer
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead for $6.3 million in capital projects for the school system Tuesday night.
The work will be financed through a low-interest loan or credit line ($5.4 million), which will be paid off in five years, and from accumulated debt service funds ($487,000) and the remaining school Capital Improvement Project funds in the current fiscal year ($352,744).
Projects included in the plan:
•Roof replacements for Boones Mill, Dudley, Sontag and Rocky Mount elementary schools.
•Gym floor replacements at Benjamin Franklin Middle School West and the Hawkins Gym at the high school.
•Air conditioning cafeterias at Lee Waid and Snow Creek elementary schools.
•Upgrade water systems at Callaway, Sontag and Dudley elementary schools.
•Security camera upgrades.
•Asphalt replacements at BFMS.
Lee Cheatham, the school system's finance director, presented the plan at the Oct. 16 board meeting, explaining that the projects had been put off many years.
Blackwater District Supervisor Cline Brubaker said the plan "makes good business sense" because it takes advantage of low interest rates and the lower construction costs that will eventually rise.
Boone District Supervisor Ronnie Thompson agreed.
"These are things that have been put off long enough," he said, adding that it won't increase the budget.
Other supervisors also agreed, but Snow Creek Supervisor Leland Mitchell said he needed more time to review the proposal.
Action on the proposal was delayed until Oct. 23.
Supervisors are expected to make a decision on the most cost-effective financing option (loan or credit line) at their November meeting. |
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