Fannin BOE to Seek Bids, Stanley Opposes

BLUE RIDGE, GA – The Fannin County Board of Education meeting held on Thursday, May 14th, followed regularity of unification among board members until talk of spending SPLOST dollars on athletic projects were brought up.Fannin County High School athletic director Dr. Ramsey stood to ask the board’s permission to start seeking out bids to gather a more accurate cost on how much it would cost to replace the existing concrete track around the football field with a state-of-the-art rubberized track.

According to Dr. Ramsey the rubberized track would be extremely beneficial to the school system and athletic department.

“Having a rubberized track for students to practice on and to compete in events on much more safe in our track and field department,” said Ramsey.

Also noted by Ramsey was that Fannin County High can’t host home field track and field meets due to no one wanting to come run on a concrete surface from other schools.

“All the other schools around us have the rubberized tracks and their students practice and compete on those tracks everyday…When it comes down to it none of the other schools want to come compete at our school because of the much harder concrete surface not being as safe for the students,” Ramsey commented.

Ramsey also stated that having a rubberized track was in the initial plans when construction of the new stadium was happening, but due to lack of funds it was cut from the budget.

At the time of the new stadium construction the cost of rubberizing the track was upwards of $600,000.

Now, after having a couple of professional opinions gathered (not actual bids), the cost 6 years later is said to be in the ball park of $350,000.

After hearing him speak almost the entire board was sold on the idea of at least gathering actual prices from bidders for resurfacing the track with rubber.

All members except one.

Chairman Steve Stanley was strongly against even the idea of spending the money on resurfacing the track.

“I said it before and I won’t take it back; that’s a lot of money…You’ll have to sale a lot of hot dogs to make back $350,000,” said Stanley.

After reiterating himself several times superintendent of schools Mark Henson reminded everyone that resurfacing the track with rubber was actually already in the SPLOST referendum three and was voted on and passed by the public to do so by 81%.

Still, when it came time to vote everyone voted in favor of seeking bids for the track except Stanley whom solely raised his hand in opposition.

Ramsey will begin the process of seeking bids immediately.

Stay tuned for more updates on the story with FYN.

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