Monday, July 24, 2023–7:21 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Rome City Commission heard an update regarding the Rome Middle School project during their pre-meeting caucus Monday.
Earlier this year, the commission agreed to back bonds for the project.
Bill Camp with Raymond James, the underwriter on the financing gave a timeline for the issuance of those bonds.
A called meeting of the building authority is scheduled for September 11 to adopt the parameters for the bond resolution. Then the city commission will meet that same day to approve an intergovernmental contract.
Bid day for the project is slated for September 19 with the approval of a guaranteed maximum price set for October 9.
“Our suggestion is to let the project drive the train,” Camp said. “In other words, borrow your money after the bid and after the guaranteed maximum price has been approved. But, we ought to use the time wisely as we approach those dates to be working on the validation of the parameters in the superior court. We should also work on our rating package.”
Commissioners Craig McDaniel and Jamie Doss expressed concerns about the $119 million price tag, $103 million of which will be covered by the bond issue to be paid back with future special purpose, local option sales tax for education proceeds.
McDaniel also expressed concerns about the guaranteed maximum price.
Rome City School Superintendent Eric Holland told the commission that Parrish Construction, who is the construction manager at risk, has given him assurances.
“They have guaranteed me that the layout of the school, with everything that we have told the community we were going to put in, that they can build it for $119 million–not a penny more, not a penny less,” he said. That’s with your baseball, your softball, and all your fine arts stuff that’s in the school.”
If all goes according to plan; the money for the middle school project could be in the bank by November.
