In a split 4-3 vote, the Smithville school board tapped an architect on May 8 to roll out the $35 million bond projects voters approved in November after the former architect resigned last month.

The board selected PBK Architects out of four firms who applied and were interview for the position after O’Connell and Robertson resigned on April 25, citing in a letter "a tremendous amount of distrust on behalf of the board of trustees" as well as "a caustic and argumentative meeting environment."

Board Members Alan Hemphill, Howard Burns and Grant Gutierrez opposed PBK Architects’ hiring. Hemphill said the board should have taken the time to consider an alternate delivery method. Burns and Gutierrez both felt another firm was more qualified.

"They were all qualified," Gutierrez said. "It was just a matter of opinion on who we thought was most qualified."

PBK was founded in 1981 and has more than 300 design professionals in eight offices, six in Texas and three in California, according to its website. It has received numerous Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Association of School Boards awards for architectural excellence in design, value, innovation, educational appropriateness and sustainability, and has been showcased in several magazines.

Making the first motion towards hiring an architect, school board member Tay Campbell opted to hire Stantec, saying it was the most highly qualified based on demonstrated competence and qualifications Campbell’s motion died for a lack of a second.

On the same qualifications, Gutierrez made a motion to hire Pfluger, because it has "a history on the site" in designing the high school facilities on the 100-acres in 2002, but the motion also died after it didn’t receive a second.

Claycomb Associates Architects was the fourth architect firm interviewed.

Construction manager

Also in a split 4-3 vote, the trustees hired Drymalla Construction as the construction manager at risk for the projects. Campbell, Hemphill and trustee Dareld Morris opposed the hiring. Drymalla had the highest number of points after individual rankings by the trustees.

Both Campbell and Hemphill felt that the board should spend the week before the regular meeting discussing the best way to move forward with the construction of a new junior high and athletic fields, and possibly split the project into two parts. Morris later declined to comment on why he voted against Drymalla Construction.

All prospective construction managers at risk were ranked by the trustees on a point system by information, reputation, experience, technical competence, safety record, proposed personnel, price and interview.

Aside from Drymalla Construction, those interviewed for the construction manager at risk position were American Constructors, Balfour Beatty Construction and Gaeke Construction. Lott Brothers declined the school board interview after holding the lowest number of points after the rankings.

The school board voted to give the superintendent authority to negotiate contracts of service for PBK and Drymalla.