By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Carter County is still a ways away from the opening of any new school facilities. Construction on the new school likely won’t start until 2025, at the soonest, superintendent Paul Green shared, and could take up to four years or more to complete.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do until then.
Green said while they may not be breaking ground just yet, there is work going on, it just isn’t as visible.
“(Last fall) the board approved phase one, which is the site development contract,” he explained. “That work is scheduled to begin as soon as all of the permits are in place. We’re currently working with the Corps of Engineers (and) US Department of Fish and Wildlife. Our architect and engineering firm have submitted documentation to those agencies for approval.”
The reason for this is to be sure they don’t impact any waterways, or interfere with protected species. In order to minimize the impact on species like bats, they have to time the removal of trees to coincide with seasons when they aren’t likely to be roosting in those trees.
“Last we heard was that we should get word sometime in the next week or so, whether all the proper documentation has been received by the Corps.”
After that, he said, there is a federally mandated 30 day period for public comment.
“Then, after that, hopefully within a short period of time, the permits will be approved.”
He said based on that timeline they could have their permits approved by the first of March, at the earliest.
“The construction company is already ready,” he added. “So, as soon as (the permitting) happens, then we expect there to be work in terms of tree removal.”
After tree removal, he said, site development work could begin in earnest.
“The expectation for that work is over a year,” he said. “A year, just getting the site ready and prepared. So, we expect that to take the rest of the calendar year, and probably into next summer… which will be the summer of 2025.”
In the interim, he said, they are working with their architecture firm to develop schematic designs.
“That work will go on for the next probably six months, during which they’ll be actually designing and laying out the school.”
So far, he explained, they’ve just looked at the types of amenities and programs the district wants, and how to fit them into the space, but nothing final.
“They’ve done some preliminary work of just basically kind of blocking out some basic examples. But that work is going to be extensive.”
He said they expect to hold some public forums, to show off potential design examples and solicit feedback, sometime in late spring.
“But, again, we believe that… construction would not start before the fall of 2025. Then, you’re still looking at a two to three year build time. So, we’re still four to five years away from a potential new facility being completed.”
While the facility will eventually have an entrance onto US 60, Green said survey crews are currently using logging roads, off of Bauer Road, to access the area.
“There is an older trail, which is off of Bauer Road, that heads to a water tower, on top of the hill,” he said.
Developing the road down to US 60 will be part of the second phase.
“Phase two is the entry and access,” he explained. “That work is being done in coordination with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC) (because), of course, that impacts the actual roadway of US 60; the turn lanes and entryway into that.”
He said those plans have board approval, and will go out to bid sometime in the coming months.
But, he said, they still have to work with KTC.
Because of the time involved in these other aspects of the project, he said, they have “a year, basically, to truly design the building.”
All of this, he said, is open to public comment and perusal, and they’ve developed a leadership group composed of students, teachers, and community members which is open to anyone who wishes to participate.
“We’ve worked with them for more than two years… and we’ve been keeping them updated.”
Anyone interested in learning more about that group, or becoming involved, can do so by reaching out to the board of education or attending a school board meeting and requesting more information.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
