Putnam Commissioners Ask Questions On New School, Jail Expansion

Putnam County Commissioners will vote next week on a $98 million bond referendum.

The bond will include $44.7 million for the new K-8 school, located off Lee Seminary Road, and $52.7 million for the jail expansion. Putnam Schools Director Corby King said the upcoming projects present an exciting time for the county.

“As Commissioner Atwood said this truly is an exciting time for our school system and our community,” King said. “Seeing some projects come to realization that have been needed for some time show that we are thinking forward with the plans and the future of our students and our community.”

The $98 million bond package would be financed at 1.8 percent, according to County Mayor Randy Porter, with an estimated payment of $5.8 million per year.

Commission Chair Mike Atwood told commissioners at a Monday night work session now is the time for the commission to react as they know the need for the new facilities. Commissioners did not share many opinions on the projects, but rather spent the 90-minutes asking questions.

Commissioner Cathy Reel asked if the school would come back and ask for an additional bond, should the cost exceed the $44 million, citing worries over building costs. King said they would not.

“We can’t do that,” King said. “We’ve got to make this fit within the $44 million.”

Sheriff Eddie Farris said at a recent budget session, the contractor for the jail expansion had locked down some of the costs associated with that project.

“I’m (in) residential real estate, so you can’t get anybody to lock in,” Commissioner Kathy Dunn said. “You’re having to add clauses in for building materials, and the increases these days so that’s why it’s shocking that it’s locked in.”

Bell Construction Company Preconstruction Manager D. Glenn Moreland said they’ve done due diligence to ensure the costs would fall into the desired budget.

Farris said the budget would cover the new building, upgrades, and parking development. Commissioner Jonathan Williams expressed concerns about parking usage from the public. Farris said they have no plans for fencing or barbed wire at the location, as they don’t see a need.

“That’s going to be employee parking,” Farris said. “We’re going to have all of our operation special equipment, things for SWAT down there stored. We’ll be in and out with constant traffic. I just don’t think there will be a lot of problems there.”

Commissioner Chris Cassetty asked if the budget for the jail included furnishings. Farris said it did. King said the school’s bond issue does not include furnishings, which could pose an additional $2 million. He said they would bid the project with alternates in an attempt to trim square footage and fall into the $44 million.

Commissioner Darren Wilson asked about the future expansion possibilities for both the new school and the jail.

Upland Design Group Architect Kim Chamberlin said there is potential to expand the school on both wings. He said this would add eight more classrooms that could accommodate some additional 100 students.

As for the jail, Cope Architecture Principal Peter Ludman said that if the jail were to expand, it must be horizontally, not vertically.

“The new facility is not designed for vertical expansion,” Ludman said. “If you expanded on that one you would go horizontally. The reason we looked at horizontal, is if you expand on it vertically you’d have to empty the facility out to do the work.”

The Putnam County Commission will vote next Monday on the two projects. Porter said the county has the bond capacity to do both projects at once even as the county grows.

“When I came into office we had $238 million in bond debt,” Porter said. “Today you’re down to $120 million, $125 million. We’ve paid off a lot, we haven’t borrowed very much except for some land, and so we’re able to have the bonding capacity to do this.”