The Bryan County Board of Education approved on Thursday to go ahead with the construction of a fire road behind the new Richmond Hill Middle School off of Belfast River Road.
But although the bid of $65,332 was approved unanimously by board members for the installation of the crushed rock or asphalt road, the project comes with a few complications.
According to Assistant Superintendent Brad Anderson, County Fire Marshal Vernon Rushing is requiring that the fire road be continuous behind the school, which means the road would cut through the football/soccer practice field.
BoE Chairman Eddie Warren said Friday the board will have to find a new location for the practice field or the field will just have to be smaller.
“We have looked at that and determined there is another large grassy area they (students) can practice in if need be,” Anderson also said at the meeting.
Warren said the original master plan, which did not include a continuous fire road, was previously approved by the state fire marshal.
“The local fire marshal can change that if he feels like he needs to have something added to that,” Warren said.
Read more in the June 30 edition of the News.