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Western Builders wins contracts for Rec project, old jail demolition
By Derek Hodges
Sylva’s Western Builders was the low-bidder on two upcoming county projects, earning them a pair of new contracts.
Contracts for expansion at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee and demolition of the old jail were awarded during county commissioners’ June 5 meeting.
The project at the Recreation Center is slated to include doubling the fitness area, as well as the construction of several multi-purpose rooms that may be used for yoga, aerobics, dance and spinning classes. Other renovations include enlarging a set of restrooms, which could in the future serve an indoor pool proposed for the site. That swimming area is not included in current plans, however.
Though county leaders budgeted $1.1 million, Western Builders’ bid on the Recreation Center expansion was $1.03 million, county Manager Ken Westmoreland said.
Work should begin soon, Westmoreland said.
Western Builders will also demolish the brick jail adjacent to the old Courthouse. In addition, the company will add an elevator to the historic Courthouse and replace some metal doors with replicas of the building’s original wooden ones.
The elevator will be located in the former Clerk of Court’s office on the south side of the building. It will serve the first and second floors of the building, with its mechanical works housed on the third floor, Westmoreland said.
Demolition of the jail will be a sensitive project as the building is connected to the Courthouse and will require Western Builders to restore and repaint a portion of the historic structure, Westmoreland said.
The project, which will cost $294,400, is set to begin within two weeks, Westmoreland said.
Because of earlier work to remove asbestos and lead-based paint from the old jail, the total price for all the work is going to be higher than county leaders planned for, Westmoreland said. An additional $73,400 will be taken out of the contingency fund, he said.
In other business June 5:
Clean Water Bond
Commissioners voted to express support for the addition of a $1 billion Clean Water Bond to North Carolina’s November ballot. If approved, money from the bond will be distributed by the Rural Center to areas working to improve water and sewer service, Commissioners’ Chairman Brian McMahan said. Jackson County has received funds from previous bonds, he said.
Utility easement
County leaders unanimously approved allowing Ernest Guerera, who owns about 76 acres of undeveloped property adjacent to the county shooting range on North River Road, to install underground electrical lines to his property from the range.
Those lines, which would be buried around the perimeter of the shooting range, would bring power to several parcels Guerera hopes to develop, Westmoreland said.
Fireworks
Wade Hampton Golf Club, which has already been approved to host a July 4 fireworks show, also requested commissioners approve a July 11 show.
Though county leaders said they are not aware of what significance the date holds, they unanimously approved the request.
Audit contract
County officials voted to award the contract for the county’s required annual audit to Dixon Hughes.
The contract is for $57,000. This is the second year the firm has conducted the audit.
“Last year was probably the smoothest audit we’ve had, and it was given to you earlier than any I can remember,” said Westmoreland, who has been Jackson County’s manager since August 2001.
Surplus sale
Commissioners voted to auction several surplus vehicles.
The cars will be sold on the online auction Web site Ebay. Selling through the site has proven faster and more profitable than holding local auctions, Westmoreland said.
Schools construction
County leaders approved funding for capital projects at several schools, including the installation of two heat pumps at the School of Alternatives, air conditioning for two Cullowhee Valley School classrooms and replacing the gym floor at Fairview School.
Next meeting
Commissioners will hold their next meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, June 19.
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