Henry County supervisors will tackle school-related maintenance at their upcoming meeting following the school board’s request to transfer more than $1 million toward the maintenance and upkeep of several schools.
The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Administration Building. If supervisors approve the two requests, totaling $1.2 million and $150,000, it would earmark $1.35 million for the proposed project.
Officials hope to upgrade lighting at several schools as well as cover the installation of an air conditioning unit at Axton Elementary School’s gym.
The proposed transfer would come from the instruction and administration-related costs, Superintendent Amy Blake-Lewis explained in a memo to the board. Blake-Lewis also said that the change wouldn’t have a fiscal impact on the county or residents.
Located at 15000 Axton School Road is one of nine elementary schools. The Roanoke company HVATECH/ACES was awarded the contract to install the system.
The school board also suggests that Triangle Electric, a Ridgeway-based company, receive the contract for light upgrades.
“As we follow our safe and supportive learning environment strategic plan, upgrading lighting throughout our division provides safe and inviting environments,” reads information from the school board.
Affected schools include Axton, Mt. Olivet, Rich Acres, Campbell Court and Stanleytown. Parking lot lighting, classroom lighting and miscellaneous outdoor lighting are part of the project.
Supervisors will also award contracts to Taylor Enterprise Inc., a Bassett-based company, to begin construction on a home at the county’s Villa Heights project.
The contract, if approved, will total $207,900.
The project is a years-long effort to replace a blighted part of the county with affordable housing units. Supervisors and other officials broke ground on the project last month.
Under current plans, the project will result in around a dozen new housing units. Officials have said they don’t anticipate this project generating a lot of money. They currently plan to sell the units at around the same price it cost to construct them. This is likely to be around $200,000.
Multiple entities have a stake in the project, including Henry County, Virginia Housing, West Piedmont Planning District Commission and the Harvest Foundation.
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