Millersburg school discusses change orders

By Rob Wheary, Staff Writer • csrobwheary@gmail.com

MILLERSBURG – As construction begins to wrap up on the Millersburg School District’s renovation project in the high school and middle school, one change order had a director up in arms.
Board member Donald Harris asked several questions about change orders presented by engineer Craig Zimmerman at their meeting Sept. 26. One that caused a lengthy discussion was on the purchase and installation of a master clock in the middle school.
“We used to have a master clock that worked for both the middle school and high school,” Harris questioned. “Why is it different now?”
Zimmerman told the board that there was an installation of a new master clock at the high school, but it is not working with the bell system in the middle school. A temporary solution was put in place, but the master clock needed to be purchased.
“Why did we get a new clock that didn’t have the same functions of the old clock?” Harris asked. “The price isn’t bad, but with the financial issues we have and the scope of the project we need to look at this.”
That explanation did not sit well with other board members as a vote to approve the change order was defeated by a 3-5 vote with Harris, Bruce Kance, Ryan Novinger, Scott Roadcap, and Morgan Wagner voting no and J. Bruce Walter, Brett White and Mark Rothermel voting yes. Board member Margaret Lebo was absent.