Committee Moves Forward as School Board Chairman Jarnigan Walks Out

Jefferson County’s newly formed Quality Control Oversight Committee met on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Born of a motion attached to the County Commission’s funding of the renovation and restoration of Building 8, the committee is charged with the hiring of a Quality Control Advisor to act as the owner’s representative for the duration of the project. The five person committee is comprised of three County Commissioner-David Seal, Jim Carmichael and David Gaut- and two School Board Members-Bill Jarnigan and Randy Bradley.

Following the installation of Seal as Chairman, Carmichael as Vice Chair and Gaut as Secretary, the floor was opened for discussion regarding the charge of the committee. Jarnigan, who serves as Chair of the School Board, and School Board Member Bradley both expressed concern that the addition of an oversight person that reports to the School Board and the County Commission would slow progress on Building 8. Insurance stipulations require that the restoration of Building 8( not the renovation portion)be completed by a hard deadline the first week of July. Carmichael, who serves as the Chairman of the County Commission, said that he had met with the Rentenbach, the School Board’s Contract Managers on the project, and that they had indicated that they were comfortable with having a Quality Control Advisor that reports to the School Board and the County Commission. Both Board Members questioned several components regarding the hiring of a Quality Control Advisor, including using the funds in that capacity, who the Advisor will report to first, the limited power of the Advisor to demand changes and overstepping the Contract Manager. Carmichael and Gaunt addressed the concerns with the contention that quality work will require no changes and sub par work should be corrected on the front end and that the expected costs associated with the new position, which are around $40,000, are funded by the County Commission and are well spent to protect the tax payer’s investment.

Chairman Seal read the motion that was attached to the Building 8 funding to the Committee in an effort to redirect the conversation toward developing advertisement for the position. Jarnigan, who was openly against adding a Quality Control Advisor to the mix, excused himself from the meeting and did not return. After some discussion on the merits of hiring a firm or individual to fill the position, it was determined that the committee would not narrow the definition and would, instead, consider both options. Michael Phagan, who has been the point for the School System during the ongoing Building Program, was in attendance at the meeting. He stated that currently meetings take place that provide information to the owners and that he would like the Quality Control Advisor to be in attendance at those meetings. He requested that any concerns that are found come directly to the Contract Manager, rather than waiting for School Board or County Commission meetings to report, to expedite the process.

The Committee approved the placement of advertisement for a Quality Control Advisor and garnered much of the language of the advertisement from the original County Commission motion. They are anticipating an expedited process and are currently planning to conduct interviews on March 9, 2015, prior to the County Commission meeting. Phagan stated that the Building 8 project is in the demolition phase and should not be impacted by the anticipated hire date.