DAYTON, Tenn. – The Rhea County Commission’s Purchase and Finance Committee has selected a company as project manager for the new high school.
The committee voted 5-2 for Hewlett Spencer of Nashville to manage construction on the $30 million school planned for Evensville.
Company owner Steve Hewlett last week thanked the committee members for their choice.
“I appreciate the vote of confidence,” he said, and will need their direction “to move forward with the architects.”
Earlier in the week, the county school board recommended Merit Construction Inc. of Knoxville as the project manager.
Rhea County School Board Chairman Dale Harris, who attended the Finance Committee meeting, said Merit’s bid complied with specifications, but acknowledged that Hewlett Spencer’s bid was lower, although both bids were close to each other.
At the Finance Committee meeting, member Tommy Snyder asked if there was money to start with pre-construction and architectural plans.
Finance Committee member Bill Graham said the county had $649,000 in a capital projects fund which replenishes itself monthly with between $48,000 to $52,000.
Kimberly McMillian is based in Rhea County. Contact her at kdj424@bellsouth.net