BOE calls meeting to resolve HHS fire safety issues

The Hartselle Board of Education will have a special called board meeting July 9 at 7 p.m. in the Central Office to discuss a  $126,763 change order at the new Hartselle High School, which will resolve several fire safety issues.

Board president Dr. James Joy said the changes were at the request of the Hartselle Fire Department, which noted that emergency vehicles could not access certain parts of the school. In particular, the loop in front of the school was too narrow for a fire engine to navigate. The department’s vehicles cannot access the back side of the school in the event of an emergency.

The order also includes adding a fire hydrant on school property.

At last Wednesday’s special meeting, Joy made a motion to consider the change order from Baggett Construction. However, other board members failed to second the motion, which caused the action to die before a vote.

The issue is being brought back before the board Tuesday night.

“We would need to go ahead and approve the change so that construction could be completed before school starts back,” Joy said. “It doesn’t look like there’s any way to get around this.”