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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-30-2015 Minutes Special MeetingDr. Charles J. Shackett, Superintendent 3497 North Ammon Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 83401  (208) 525-4400  Fax (208) 529-0104  www.d93schools.org Board of Trustees  Annette Winchester  Kip Nelson  Amy Landers  Brian McBride  Jeff Bird Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer Marjean McConnell, Deputy Superintendent Special Meeting March 30, 2015 3:30 PM I. Call to Order Chairperson Winchester called the meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. II. Roll Call Those Board members in attendance were Chairperson Annette Winchester, Vice-chairperson Kip Nelson, Treasurer Amy Landers, Trustee Jeff Bird, and Trustee Brian McBride. Others in attendance were Superintendent Chuck Shackett, Deputy Superintendent Marjean McConnell, Communications Liaison Phil Campbell, Director of Plant Facility/Purchasing Roger Hill, Chief Financial/Operations Officer April Burton, and Board Clerk Valerie Messick III. Approve Agenda Chairperson Winchester asked for a motion to approve the agenda IV. Welcome Visitors and Delegates Chairperson Winchester welcomed Ken Karst to the meeting as well as Nick Miller, and Eric Herringer via telephone. MOTION: Kip Nelson made the motion to approve the Agenda. Jeff Bird seconded. The vote was 5 in favor with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. Motion was carried. V. Bond Resolution - April Burton Chairperson Winchester asked Mr. Hill to present the Initial Findings of the MTI subsurface soils exploration and foundation evaluation conducted on March 23, 2015. They gave us an Initial Findings letter to let us know what they found after digging nine test holes. No uncontrolled fill matter or any solid rock was encountered at any of the test sites that they dug. That means that no lava rock was found at any of the drill sites. Uncontrolled fill matter would be that which may have been brought in prior to excavation. There was nothing but the soils that were there. Complete test results will be available in a couple of weeks. Based on their findings, the site is suitable for the planned development. The native soils at the site are similar to those typically found in the area. Mr. McBride wondered if the testing was done on the southeast corner of the property. It was done from the end of Ladino out to where the footprint of the building would be. This is where the utilities would be placed. Then the rest of the testing was done around the footprint of where the building would be. Mr. Nelson wondered how far apart the samples were. Mr. Hill doesn’t know the distance between holes they often use a grid. Mr. McBride wondered why was there concern that there was lava rock there when there was none found. There is lava rock in the area. But it is just here and there. You can do a test like this and put out a grid and never find any. Once in a while you might find something between the gri d points. Chairperson Winchester asked Mr. Karst what the concern with the lava might be. Most of the concern is with the utility trenches if you are excavating in lava rock because it is the deepest construction in the project. They need to have 30 inches of frost cover above the footing line. In the best case scenario the bottom of the footings will go down four feet. This depth is required to eliminate frost heaving in the building. The foundation system is typically the shallowest construction and the deepest construction will be the water lines as well as the sewer lines that slop at about ½% per foot. If you need to run the sewer lines a long way they could get down to 14 or 15 feet deep. They ran test holes from Ladino east and the holes were 12 feet deep so there is a good chance that we won’t find any lava rock in any of the building excavations. The soil at the site is as good a soil to build on in Bonneville County as there is. If they can get the minimum bearing into lower gravel and sand it will be outstanding for spread footings. Mr. Nelson wondered how thick the footings for a building of this size need to be. Most of the footings will be 12 inches thick and less than 5 feet deep. Based on the test pits, no rock was encountered. There was four feet of over burden. That is the best material to build on. Chairperson Winchester asked if there were any other questions or concerns from the Board. Hearing none, she then asked Mrs. Burton to present the updated Bond Resolution to the Board. Mrs. Burton stated that the Board has several versions of the Resolution. During the March 11th meeting there was a resolution passed for $56.1 million. That was the same resolution that was passed in January. At the Work Session on March 18th there was discussion regarding the possibility of reducing the amount of the bond to $55.5 million based on the report that we just heard. That would be a $600,000 reduction pursuant to the results of the Geotechnical Report. There was also discussion regarding the removal of the phrase allowing us to repair and remodel existing structures. That change is also shown in the materials that are before the Board. There are several versions of the resolution in front of the Board so they can decide how they would like to proceed. She then asked the Board how they would like her to proceed. Chairperson Winchester asked about how the Board felt about removing the statement allowing the Board to use any additional funds to repair or remodel existing structures. Mr. McBride was concerned that if the Board takes that verbiage out, we could have to find places to spend the money on the high school project instead on things that are really needed in the District such as new roofs and additional classrooms. There will be challenges on either end of the District and it would be good if the Board would have the ability to help that overcrowding with the money we get from the bond. It limits us and it is matter of trust. This Board is conservative and will put money toward whatever needs to be done. This Board is willing to listen. Mr. Nelson is good to take the verbiage out and concentrate on the one building. Taking it out will give our patrons confidence in us and show that is what we are going to do. Chairperson Winchester explained that if the high school bid comes in significantly lower than expected the Board can go back to the patrons to help decide what to do with any excess if the Board is not going to use the money for the high school. Mr. McBride was concerned that the Board would be locked into using any extra money on the high school when there are so many other needs in the District. Mrs. Winchester’s explanation was helpful. Mrs. Landers asked what the vote would need to be to make that decision if the Board went back out to the patrons in the unlikely event there would be money left over from this project. Mr. Nick Miller stated that if the question we ask this time isn’t broad enough to cover expenditures that the Board wants to make at a future time, it will take a 2/3 majority vote to reauthorize the bond for the purchase of anything away from the high school facility. So, if the Board decides to take out the “catch all” phrase it would be required to use all funding toward the high school facility or ask the patrons to reauthorize the bond. Mr. McBride was concerned with getting a 2/3 majority if the Board would be going out to the public with a small amount of money spend on District projects. The District knows what the needs are. Mr. McBride thinks it is a mistake to remove the verbiage. Mr. Bird and Mrs. Landers agree with Mr. McBride with regard to the verbiage. Dr. Shackett stated that it is important to get the building built and put the funds just to the school. He would like to put any extra money into the school possibly the way Vallivue built extra classroom on their high school. That would allow us to concentrate on the one building. Taking that verbiage out it gives patrons confidence that we won’t spend money where they don’t want it used. The Board would not need to go out to vote if they use funding on the high school. Chairperson Winchester then asked the Board about how they felt about lowering the amount of the contingency fund now that we do not have to have a lava rock test done on the property. Mrs. Landers feels that it is a mistake to take the price down given the fact that this school has been built several times and the district currently building the school came in over bid. We don’t know what is will happen in the future. People have said that the feel it is a safe amount to take off the bond but, she would feel more comfortable to take the verbiage out than to take the amount down. Mr. Nelson agrees with Mrs. Landers. What we have received gives us more breathing opportunity. He doesn’t feel that the school is as complete as he would like to see it. He would like to take anything extra and put it back into the school. So Mr. Nelson is in favor or seeing the amount remain the same. Mr. McBride feels that the amount of decrease is a non-issue. This is only one contingency. He feels we could run into a problem by not staying the course. The Board did the homework and he feels it would not be a good idea to reduce the amount. Mr. Bird doesn’t feel the amount of reduction is enough. If the reduction were a couple of million, it would make a difference in his vote. Chairperson Winchester then asked if the Board wants the same resolution as passed in the January meeting. Mrs. Landon is ok with staying with the same resolution since it failed by less than 1%. Mr. McBride feels the Board should stay the course and stay with the same resolution. Chairperson Winchester wondered whether there is anything that the Board needs to vote on. Mrs. Burton stated that we have a resolution authorizing the District to go out for $56.1 million for 17.5 years and the verbiage to authorize the Board to use any excess to remodel existing buildings. Unless the Board wants to change any of those terms there is no need to vote on the resolution. Mr. Herringer stated that the resolution of March 11th has been adopted. If the Board doesn’t change anything in that resolution, then there is not a reason to vote again. Mr. Herringer stated that if the vote could change to 5 – 0 instead of 4 – 1 that would be a reason to revote. Chairperson Winchester asked Mr. Bird if he would change his vote. Mr. Bird would consider supporting the resolution if the amount were to change by a few million so it would change the levy rate. Chairperson Winchester stated that vote won’t be different. So, the Board has approved submitting the ballot form to the county. The vote will remain 4 – 1. Chairperson Winchester then asked if there were any additional comments or concerns from Board members. Mr. McBride wanted to thank the Advocates Committee for the hours spent in behalf of the students in the District. This is really a community based resolution and he appreciates all the efforts toward what the community needs. He is grateful for the leg work that was done. Mr. Bird also appreciates what the committee is doing for the children in the District. VI. Call for Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings A. Regular Meeting - Wednesday, April 8, 2015 - 7:00 p.m. B. Work Session - Bonneville Student Council - Wednesday, April 22, 2015 - Bonneville High School Media Center - 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. C. Work Session - Lincoln Student Council - Wednesday, April 29, 2015 - Lincoln High School Room #3 - 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. D. Work Session - Hillcrest Student Council - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - Hillcrest High School Media Center - 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. E. Regular Meeting - Wednesday, May 13, 2015 - 7:00 p.m. VII. Adjournment Chairperson Winchester asked for a motion to adjourn at 3:59 p.m. MOTION: Mr. McBride made the motion to adjourn. Amy Landers seconded. The vote was 5 in favor with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. Motion was carried APPROVED: ______________________________________ Chairperson ATTESTED: _______________________________________ Clerk Date: _______________________