Washington County approves LGC financing application for new consolidated school

The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Nov. 7 to approve RESO 2022-044, authorizing the county to seek Local Government Commission (LGC) approval of a financing agreement for a proposed 165,000-square-foot school that would consolidate several county schools.

The resolution was moved by Commissioner Julius Walker Jr. and seconded by Commissioner Ann Keyes; the motion carried with all five commissioners voting yes. County Manager and County Attorney Curtis Potter presented the financing request during a public hearing and said the county is completing pre-construction reviews and preparing materials for the LGC.

Why it matters: county officials said the project combines multiple school facilities into a single campus and relies heavily on state funding and rebates to limit local borrowing. Potter told the board that if the county must borrow the full estimated $20 million it would be at the county’s borrowing limit, noting the county has about $50 million in state funds earmarked for the project and is pursuing rebates and other cost reductions.

Project timeline and site preparation: a representative identified in the record as Dr. Carr said the Board of Education is revisiting timelines after earlier delays; demolition of Pines Elementary, originally planned for October, is now expected to begin in January, and the Board of Education hopes for project completion by fall 2024 but acknowledged supply and procurement uncertainties. Potter said the construction package was submitted for publication and that the county plans to present audit materials to the LGC in early February.

Traffic and workforce: resident George Swain asked whether the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) will add turn lanes. Dr. Carr said site grade and bus access plans will inform DOT’s recommendation and that the school district is soliciting community input on grade configurations through the Washington County Schools website; Chair Tracey A. Johnson suggested the county post the same information. Dr. Carr also said METCON, the construction contractor named in the discussion, indicated it would look to hire locally through Workforce Development.

Debris and logistics: Potter told commissioners staff are evaluating the county landfill’s ability to handle demolition debris from the project.

What the board did: the board opened a public hearing, heard public questions about timing and traffic, closed the hearing and approved RESO 2022-044 to request LGC review and approval of a county financing agreement for the school. The board also scheduled a joint meeting with the Board of Education for Jan. 10, 2023, to coordinate next steps.

Next steps: LGC approval of the financing agreement is required for the county to finalize borrowing. County staff said additional procurement and rebate decisions will be made over the coming months and that schedule changes remain possible depending on supply-chain and procurement timelines.