Facilities Manager Interview

Mr. Dee Ingram has been working in Calhoun County for the last 5 years. He has been building houses for 21 years. He works with all of the general contractors and architects overseeing all small and large maintenance issues with the 18 schools, Technology building, Central Office building, and transportation building.

*The superintendent had him visit all the schools last year with an architect to see what all needed to be done structurally to the schools.
*The superintendent makes the decision on new schools or additions to schools.
*Also several years ago a roofing company from Birmingham came and made a list telling how many years is left on each room.

*The architect and Mr. Ingram also made a list of renovations that needed to happen with ADA guidelines.
*The superintendent initiated putting in new heating/cooling units in all High School Gyms.
*The system has a 5 year Capital Plan that is due to the state. The system has to say what they are going to do each year and projects over $50,000 that will be contracted out. For example: Alexandria Middle School had to be added to the Capital Plan because it is to be built in the next two years. The plan also has on it to fix the base of old buildings and redoing bleachers at HS stadiums.

*The most significant costs over the last few years is roofs. It was contracted out for older buildings and the cost was $100,000 for one school, and $270,000 for Weaver High School.
*Walter Wellborn High School had new heating/cooling units replaced and it cost $850,000.

*The costs are budgested by QBond money that the Federal government set aside for heating/cooling and roofs. Heating/cooling units are replaced constantly in schools with the 4 men the county has that are heating/cooling certified. They cost $1,000 to $5,000 each unit.

*The General Maintenance fun is $4 million dollars with payroll. Without payroll it is $1.1 million. This is local funds.
*2120 money is Federal money and Capital Plan money. All Federal money rolls over to the next year if you don't use it.

*An architect has to draw up all plans and get approved to replace heating/cooling units, roofs, and structure related issues. The county gets different bids as long as the contract will be above $50,000.
*Currently-Walter Wellborn High School has a bid out for the football stadium to fix the blechers and Pleasant Valley High School Football visitor side bleachers for $200,000.

*He hates that they have to use different firms with each building contract. The county is currently adding on to Ohatachee High School. He meets with the general contractor and architect each Monday. He reports his findings to the superintendent when necessary.

*Ohatchee High School is costing the system $4.25 million. He has to sign as the owner. The general contractor answers to the architect and the architect reports to Mr. Ingram. He attends a yearly Plant Operator Meeting in Montgomery.
*The current Capital Plan budget is $9.47 million. That includes Ohatchee High School, Technology money, 90% maintenance, and paving several school parking lots and roads between schools.

*The system has had great superintendents and has never had to borrow for all of their projects. The new Alexandria Middle School will be the first project the system will have to borrow money to build. That construction will begin in January 2016.

*Everything is public knowledge. Bids are put into the Anniston Star for 3 weeks so that companies can bid for the projects. Anniston Star writes about all the projects that are discussed at the Board of Education meetings. The website, www.ccboe.us, informs the public about all of the construction projects. The system holds community meetings about any big construction projects.

*The problems is that it is time consuming.
For example: Ohatchee High School office renovations was budgeted for $250,000 and the maintenance department completed it for $100,000. The plans always had to be approved by the state, but the county didn't contract over $50,000, so there didn't have to be an outside General Contractor. Mr. Ingram could sign off on all of the paperwork.

*If the system has to contract out $15,000-$50,000 than they have to have 3 quotes, but not put it in the paper. If it is over $50,000 than it is in the paper for 3 weeks and a general contractor is hired additionally to what the county pays Mr. Ingram.

*The most pressing problem is plumbing. The men take trucks home, so that they can get to schools quickly at all hours of the day. Men are on-call constantly to deal with weather related issues.
*He prioritizes by dealing with the most pressing issue first. Painting comes as a first come, first serve basis.
*His budget is just a sum of money and not a specific amount set aside for each school. He chooses what comes first when the workers go out each morning.

Reactions

• The system pays a lot of money to fix up schools.
• I couldn't believe the amount of money to fix stadiums. I don't think I'll ever sit in bleachers again with out thinking about the cost to fix them.
• I didn't know that bids had to be put in the paper for 3 weeks.

Reactions

• I knew that our county built batting cages over the last few years, but wasn't aware that the system had to pay an architect to make the plans. I figured they just drew the designs on a napkin.

Reactions

• I think now I will pay closer attention to the maintenance updates at the board of education meetings.

Rebecca Grogan