HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 24 2024 Board Work Session Minutes 340
MINUTES
WORK SESSION
FREDERICK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
8:00 A.M.
BOARD ROOM, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
107 NORTH KENT STREET, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
ATTENDEES
Board of Supervisors: Josh E. Ludwig, Chairman; Judith McCann-Slaughter, Vice
Chairman; Blaine P. Dunn; Heather H. Lockridge; John F. Jewell; and Robert T. Liero were present.
Robert W. Wells was absent.
Staff present: Michael Bollhoefer, County Administrator; Jay E. Tibbs, Deputy County
Administrator; Roderick B. Williams, County Attorney; Cheryl Shiffler, Finance Director; Karen
Vacchio, Public Information Officer; Wyatt Pearson, Planning Director; Bill Orndoff, Treasurer;
Tonya Sibert, Commissioner of the Revenue; and Patrick Fly, Assistant Director of Information
Technologies.
Finance Committee: Mike Stottlemyer and Delane Karalow were present. Brandon Monk
was absent.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ludwig called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
DISCUSSION OF FOPS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN— FY 24-25
County Administrator Bollhoefer reviewed capacity and enrollment projections and the
concept plans provided by FCPS for Middletown and Jordan Springs Elementary Schools.
Estimated costs for the two projects were listed as $22 million for Middletown and $13.6 million for
Jordan Springs.
The Board and staff discussed attaining a guaranteed cost for construction projects and
the possible use of proffer funds for design work.
Planning Director Wyatt Pearson reviewed the differences in enrollment projections based
on data from the Weldon Cooper Center versus the numbers from FCPS.
Mr. Bollhoefer discussed the four options permitted in Virginia for handling the bid process
as follows: Design-Bid-Build; Design-Build; PPEA; and Construction Manager-at-Risk.
The Board discussed the current estimate of$152 million for the fourth high school.
Minute Book 49
Board of Supervisors Work Session of April 24, 2024
County of Frederick, Virginia
341
Mr. Bollhoefer discussed a third-party no-cost review option suggested by Gilbane to assist
the Board in understanding the request for the fourth high school.
The Board discussed the fourth high school and options for proceeding including
determining costs and size of the building,enrollment projections, school size as it relates to athletic
competition class, redistricting by the School Board to alleviate overcrowding, the need for design
plans to accompany the request for$152 million, other high schools in Virginia that have recently
been built for less than $152 million, online and hybrid school models that reduce the need for
classroom space, and stand-alone school building additions.
Chairman Ludwig discussed finance options for the fourth high school, County population
growth, and active construction costs published by VDOE.
The Board discussed natural revenue growth including federal funds.
Chairman Ludwig listed possible cost mitigation options that should be explored before
raising taxes including the following: reducing the cost or pursuing alternatives to the fourth high
school, committing to a staffing plan to realign teachers with students, committing to a moratorium
on new County capital projects, finding new sources of revenue, and enacting a spending freeze
across all departments.
FUTURE MEETINGS
The Board discussed future meetings and tentatively scheduled a budget work session for
May 16, 2024.
ADJOURN
At 10:25 a.m. the meeting was adjourned.
Josh E. Ludwig Michael Bollhoefer
Chairman, Board of Supervisors County Administrator
Minutes Prepared By:
Ann W. Phillips
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book 49
Board of Supervisors Work Session of April 24, 2024
County of Frederick, Virginia