County Commission Authorizes Issuance of $3.4 Million Capital Outlay Note for School Projects

The DeKalb County Commission last Monday night adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of a general obligation capital outlay note in an amount not to exceed $3.4 million for school system building/roofing projects.
The note will cover the $600,000 FEMA grant match to build eight tornado safe rooms at DeKalb West School, an $850,000 cafeteria and kitchen renovation project at DeKalb West School; a $1.1 million DeKalb Middle School roof project, a $700,000 DeKalb West School roof project; and an $85,000 Smithville Elementary School partial roof project. No property tax increase will be required.
The county will spend $600,000 in local funding to meet a 12.5% FEMA grant match for building the “safe rooms” at DeKalb West School. The purpose of the “safe rooms” is to relieve overcrowding and to shelter students, school staff, and the general public in times of severe weather. Under the grant program, the federal government pays 75% of the cost. The state pays 12.5% and the local share is 12.5%. Any further costs related to construction not covered by the FEMA grant, including furnishing classrooms, is to be funded locally.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has approved grant funds of more than $1.5 million for the safe room project at DeKalb West School, pending final approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The proposed 15,000 square foot addition will be constructed in the front of the school, including eight classrooms, restrooms, a new secure entrance, an office, clinic, conference room, guidance and teacher work area.
Although a new larger DWS cafeteria and kitchen does not qualify under the FEMA grant as school officials had hoped, the architects included in the design an expansion of the existing dining area to be funded locally and that project is covered in the capital outlay note.
David Brown of Kaatz, Binkley, Jones & Morris Architects of Mount Juliet updated the school board on the FEMA grant application during its regular monthly meeting earlier this month. ” I’ve spoken with the state and there is one more (grant application) ahead of you guys at the moment and then you guys are next. I expect monies becoming available for our DeKalb West project, probably in August,” he said.