Editors Opinion: By Sandy Cameron
An open letter to the Foxfire Village Council and Mayor
Two email requests sent to council members with questions regarding the Foxfire pool have gone unanswered.
Public Record Southern Pines Pool Service
Missing the Point – Were Additional Proposals and Estimates obtained?
Mr. Jackson, acting as an agent on behalf of Foxfire Village is not the main concern nor are his credentials in question. We are all grateful that Mr. Jackson has taken such good care of our pool all these years.
During the Foxfire Village Council Meeting on January 25, 2024, Estimate #302 from Southern Pines Pool Service for $77,000 for pool repairs was voted on and accepted unanimously by the Council.
The primary concern remains after 14 years of not seeking informal competitive proposals for work performed on the Village pool, the Council continues to accept as the sole input, an estimate from Mr. Jackson without the benefit of other bids or it appears, seeking input from other licensed contractors. In accordance with Basic Legal Requirements for Construction Contracting with North Carolina Local Governments (see Figure 1), if the cost of a contract exceeds $30,000, informal bidding is required.
We also appreciate the work done by the Council to address the residents’ concerns and make available money to repair the pool. Most concerned residents believe being fiscally responsible and identifying the most qualified contractor(s) requires more than one estimate.
Did the Council confirm or consider:
1) In the State of North Carolina, a general contractor must be licensed if the contract is valued at $40,000 or higher. If Mr. Jackson does not have a license, did you ask who is doing this work, and what is the license number for that general contractor/pool contractor?
Note: a review of the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors [NCLBGC] did not return a valid contractor’s license for either Mr. Jackson or Southern Pines Pool Service.
2) Is there a written guarantee on any of this work? Or the work that was performed last year?
3) What was the reason for not seeking other proposals and estimates?
4) Based on the age of our pool, how long will replastering last before we can expect the need another repair?
5) In a prior Council meeting, a resident asked about the option of a pool liner. Was this researched and considered? If yes, were their determining factors deeming this an unreasonable solution?
6) Did the Council receive an itemized proposal with a breakdown of costs, supplies, subcontractors, labor, agent / general contractor fees? Estimate #302 does not provide a line-item cost estimate. As our agent, on behalf of Foxfire Village, what is Mr. Jackson charging the residents of Foxfire Village for his portion of work performed on this estimate?
- Is it necessary to install new black racing lane tiles on the floor and new targets on walls on a 50-year-old pool that may not be around a year from now? Is this required or cosmetic? What is the cost?
- What is the feasibility of a pool liner with an estimated standard 15-year guarantee in comparison to the current stop gap repair?
Seven months ago, during the June 29, 2023, council meeting, the Council agreed that getting the costs for pool repair and replacement was important and one of the highest priorities in the budget. Councilwoman Nauman states (video time stamp 29:36), “in between everything else I am doing, yeah, I’ll get it DONE,” referring to costs of a repair and cost of a new pool. Since that time, the topic of obtaining estimates has been discussed at several meetings and council has always agreed that the pool repair is of the highest priority. NOW, seven months later, we are backed into a corner with time limits to get the pool open, with no other option obtained. The motion to spend $77,000 has passed.
We ask that the Council focus on one crucial factor. Yes, we want the pool to open this year, but let us make certain we are getting it done with the best possible resources.
If the council wishes to have the pool open in time for the 2024 season, we hope that the Council assigns someone to get answers to these questions now, before work is started on this estimate, and shares the answers with our residents. If the council chooses not to get additional estimates, please explain to the village residents your reasons.
It is the taxpayers and residents of Foxfire Village who are owed transparency and accountability in all aspects and issues concerning our Village.
Figure 1: Basic Legal Requirements for Construction Contracting with North Carolina Local Governments
There are specific legal requirements that govern contracting for construction and repair projects for local governments. If the cost of the contract is over $30,000, informal bidding is required.
