The Sunflower County Consolidated School District is one step closer to completing the Moorhead Middle School addition and renovation project plus a few more improvements on district facilities.
On the recommendation of William Mills, Mills and Mills Architect firm, the SCCSD voted to accept the bid of $2,671,529 submitted by Kenneth R. Thompson Jr. Builders Inc., of Greenwood, which was the lowest of three contractors.
David Smith Construction of Inverness was next lowest with an overall bid of $2,952,000 and third was Ralph McKnight and Son Construction, Inc, of Kosciusko.
The base bid prices, which would be for the additional Moorhead Middle classrooms and the renovation of four existing rooms only, are $2,089,000, $2,395,000 and $2,654,700 respectively.
The inclusive total on the lowest bid includes the base bid for the Moorhead school plus four additional projects spread across the district which include a, $349,000 renovation on the existing Moorhead Middle School gym, a $137,580 roofing job on the Drew Hunter Middle School cafeteria and boiler room, a $24,949 piece of work to be done on the Ruleville Middle School roof on the fifth and six grade class building and a $71,000 improvement to the foundation affecting the front access and egress to the Inverness Elementary school.
Mills submitted a letter of recommendation to Superintendent Miskia Davis on Wednesday outlining his approval of the Thompson firm and board member Emma Golden asked why this was his choice and he responded that he has worked with them on other projects, they keep their worksite clean and they submit daily progress reports.
Thompson’s firm is also responsible for erecting the new Life Help facility for the county.
School officials said the project came in within budget and groundbreaking is set for today at 9 a.m.
