Joe Coladarci, High Rock Lake, N.C.
♦ I was so happy to see that the RFP took the time to ask Chairman Sides the right questions and then print his full answers. My question is why the Post insists on avoiding printing the truth about the West End Plaza.
Now the Question is when will the Chairman of the Rowan Salisbury School Board sit down and answer some questions as I am sure the Post is either unable or unwilling to ask these questions:
1. Over the past 10 years how much money has the BOE spent on the search for their new home?
2. Why North Main?
A. Who owns the Land?
B. How much will you pay for the property, does that include 200 parking spaces?
C. The County agreed to provide 6.5 million, how much more will you spend to complete the project and where will you get the funding?
D. Is there any truth that you will trade 40 acres of surplus school property near the Country Club for the North Main site?
3. The West End Plaza is located in the City Limits. Why will you not consider it as your new location, some facts about the location?
A. The Belk’s Building is a two story 80,000 square foot building. This is 20,000 square feet more than you need.
B. Parking for 200 cars already sits right out front.
C. 28 commercial tenants could prosper with the BOE employees a short stroll through the mall from their offices.
D. As the building is already sitting there, and only 27 years old, would $60 per square foot ($4,800,000) to up fit the building to your needs not provide your workers with an ideal work environment? Of course, if you only take the 60,000 square feet you say you need, you could save $1,200.000 that we could use for our kids schools.
One other thought… Dr. Moody once stated her review of the needs for a Central Office and it was only 46,000 square feet. At that, the JC Penney’s location would fit. This would save over 2 million over Belk’s and be $4,000,000 less than the money the County Commissioners are willing to give you.
E. That’s $4 MILLION that could be used to help our kids.
I know I am not a reporter, but I am a citizen of Rowan County, and I have to wonder whose ego is being fed and whose pockets are being lined by insisting that the Central Office must be built Downtown. A savings of $4 MILLION is real and you need to rethink your stubbornness. AFTER ALL IT’S FOR THE CHILDREN.
