The final figure for the new Ganns/Falling Water School is way over budget, county officials said Wednesday. However, the County Commission voted to proceed on the $29,414,000 project.
Gary Waters of the county schools said his estimate had been $25 million and he was surprised at the amount of the school bid that was awarded to Rentenbach Constructors.
He said in lean times in the past that contractors had been at cost or below on school projects just to keep their work force going. He said, "Contractors are no longer starving and this may be the new norm." He said it was apparently due to "the improving economy."
The bid includes over $1 million in overtime costs in order to have the school ready over a 13-month time period to open in August of 2016.
Mr. Waters said the school cost was up 27.12 percent over that of the East Brainerd Elementary. However, Commissioner Tim Boyd said the square foot cost for Ganns/Falling Water is actually less - $153.46 compared to $155 for East Brainerd.
On the East Brainerd project there was no rush to complete it.
The low bidder was J&J Construction of Chattanooga, but officials said it could not meet the short time frame.
Mr. Waters said there were nine companies represented at a pre-bid conference, but only four submitted bids.
The price includes demolishing two of the county's oldest schools - Ganns-Middle Valley Elementary and Falling Water Elementary.
The new school will be built at the rear of the current Ganns-Middle Valley on Middle Valley Road. The current school site will be a parking area.
In the future, Mr. Waters recommended that architects for new schools be chosen sooner. He said the architect for the Ganns/Falling Water School had to draw up the plans in eight months and should have had a year or more.
The County Commission earlier allotted $48 million for this and three other school projects. Mr. Waters conceded that the other projects may also come in higher than expected.
However, County Mayor Jim Coppinger said those other school projects will be seen to completion.