Board of Education may ‘bank’ wetlands

Inman Elementary is currently on track to open its doors in August. Fayette County School Board got an update Monday on construction at the Ga. Highway 92/Inman Road school.

Superintendent John DeCotis reported that the standing-seam metal roof is 99 percent complete in all sectors and that the modified bitumen roof over flat areas has been completed.

DeCotis said mechanical ductwork is currently being installed as is the fire protection piping for sprinkler lines. Permanent electric power has also been installed. Other construction items either complete or under way include the concrete walkways, the gas line to the roof-top HVAC units and metal framing for the media center ceiling.

Also at the meeting, Facilities Director Mike Satterfield told board members the Whitewater High School wetlands mitigation project is proceeding with potential users of mitigation credits currently being contacted.

Board members in March heard a report from consultant Integrated Science & Engineering and biologist Dennis Chase on the potential for the future sale of wetlands mitigation credits on 49.5 acres of unbuildable property at the Goza Road complex. Such a sale would bring substantially more than the appraised value of the property.

Citing such an example, ISE’s Ron Feldner said the mitigation credits might bring nearly $850,000, or 3.5 times the appraised value.

Feldner stressed that at this point in the process the figures used in the example were subject to change.

Potential market for the credits includes Fayette County, Georgia Dept. of Transportation, Georgia Power and private mitigation banks.

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