CUMBERLAND — Allegany County Commission President Michael McKay on Thursday asked his fellow commissioners to back an additional $1 million to support the construction of the new Allegany High School.
“I stated in the board of education’s meeting Tuesday night (that) I was willing to be flexible with helping in the demolition of the former Sacred Heart Hospital, but the board needed to be just as flexible to keep the total cost of the new Allegany to $13.4 million.’”
Demolition costs for the 500,000 square feet of buildings at the hospital site are estimated at about $2 million, and McKay said if the demolition costs exceed $2 million, the board of education “would be responsible for the difference.”
The demolition work is expected to start next summer.
McKay said an additional $1 million would bring the local contribution toward the project of county commissioners and the board of education to $12.2 million.
The current Allegany High School was built in 1925. The BOE decided to build a new high school after spending more than two years studying how best to reconfigure its secondary schools.
Preliminary estimates show that the county would pay a total of about $13 million toward the estimated $34 million project.
McKay has said the county expects to realize some savings through refinancing debt and would consider directing some of that toward demolition.
The state is expected to provide funding for a large portion of building costs; however, demolition is an “ineligible expense,” according to Vince Montana, facilities director for the Allegany County Board of Education.
McKay read aloud a written memo to his fellow Commissioners Creade Brodie Jr. and Bill Valentine.
McKay asked that commissioners take formal action no later than their next regular business meeting on Nov. 29.
McKay made the request of his colleagues at Thursday’s regular commission meeting at the county office complex on Kelly Road.
Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com.
Local News
BOE needs to be ‘just as flexible’ in school costs, says McKay
- Local News
-
-
Rocky Gap casino opens
The newly christened Rocky Gap Casino Resort has opened its doors to the public.
-
Frostburg officials OK 2014 budget
The Frostburg mayor and city council have voted to adopt a $9.7 million budget for fiscal year 2014 and to keep open an alley that many citizens feared would be closed.
-
Driveway artist
-
Okla. tornado may have caused more than $2B in damage
The tornado that struck an Oklahoma City suburb this week may have created $2 billion or more in damage as it tore through as many as 13,000 homes, multiple schools and a hospital, officials said Wednesday as they gave the first detailed account of the devastation.
-
Somerset-to-Meyersdale U.S. Route 219 sends its last permit
The final permit is on the way for a Somerset-to-Meyersdale U.S. Route 219 improvement project to begin.
-
Delaney introduces an initiative for a national infrastructure bank
Freshman U.S. Rep. John Delaney on Wednesday rolled out his signature legislative initiative for his first term — a plan for a national infrastructure bank that requires no federal appropriations.
-
Fireball spotted over Maryland
A bright light seen traveling across the sky over the weekend by dozens of witnesses across Maryland and the region is what astronomers are calling a fragmenting meteoric fireball.
-
6th annual DelFest has arrived, bigger than ever
Thirty national recording artists are preparing to step into the Cumberland spotlight this weekend at the Allegany County Fairgrounds as DelFest rolls into town for its sixth annual musical festival.
-
Keyser woman organizing opposition to proposed housing complex
Barbara Hartman, who lives near Pine Swamp Road, said she doesn’t want Bayridge Green built near her and is trying to do something about it.
-
Two sentenced in Garrett probation violation cases
Two men were found guilty in unrelated cases of violating probation last week in Garrett County Circuit Court.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Rocky Gap casino opens
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
