Steele Memorial Library on county agenda
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 31, 2013 10:46 PM
A capital project ordinance for the Mount Olive Steele Memorial Library project is expected to be created by Wayne County commissioners when they meet Tuesday morning.
Commissioners on Aug. 6 awarded the project to the design/build team of Smith Engineering & Design/Jackson Builders, both of Goldsboro.
In design/build, an architect and general contractor form a team that works under one contract with the project owner, in this case the county, providing both design and construction services.
Tuesday's meeting will begin with an 8 a.m. agenda briefing followed by the official meeting at 9 a.m. Both will be held in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the County Courthouse annex.
According to a letter from County Attorney Borden Parker, the team has asked for two initial contracts.
The first is a fixed-cost contract for $65,000 for design and engineering costs. The second is for $70,000 for demolition.
The $70,000, however, could increase "if something is found" during demolition, Parker said.
The county will move $200,000 into the Library Project Fund for the design and demolition part of the project.
Both contracts are expected to be rolled into the final cost of the general contract that also will have to be approved by commissioners.
That, too, would be a fixed-cost contract.
If the board is not satisfied with the cost, it does not have to sign the final contract, he said.
Parker said he was not sure if the contracts would be completed prior to Tuesday's meeting.
The project will renovate the former Belk department store building on West Main Street to house the library. The county purchased the building in November 2008 for $400,000 from Mount Olive College.
The Steele Memorial Library Steering Committee spearheaded a grassroots fundraiser that raised more than $350,000 to pay for the design work for a project to renovate the 20,218-square-foot building.
Commission Chairman Steve Keen has said he would like to see the former Belk building renovated and opened for use by next summer.
He also encouraged the design/build team to partner with Mount Olive, the library board and Donna Phillips, library director, and her staff.
The library was included in the board's capital improvement plan for 2013-14 at an estimated cost of $3.5 million. However, the commissioners' target cost of $120 per square foot equals just over $2.42 million.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners will consider the creation of the Wayne County Detention Center Advisory Board.
The board's duties would include reviewing current and future detention centers. It also would develop recommendations for commissioners and sheriff on the use, reuse, renovation or construction of detention center facilities.
As recommended, the board would include Commissioners John Bell, chairman, Ray Mayo, who is chairman of the commission's Facilities Committee and board Chairman Steve Keen as an ex-office member.
Other members would be Sheriff Cary Winders or his designee, County Manger Lee Smith or his designee, Facilities Director Milford Smith or his designee, court liaison Jennifer Smith, detention center representative Sheriff's Office Major Fane Greenfield, Information Technology Director Steven Cross or his designee, Superior Court Judge Arnold O. Jones Jr. or his designee, Chief District Court Judge David Brantley or his designee and Parker.
Also on the agenda:
* Commissioners will consider a request from Ossie R. Daniel of approval for a late application for the present use value program.
* The board will be asked to approve the Saulston Fire Department's financing of up to $225,000 to purchase a new fire truck. Smith is recommending that the board approve fire protection contracts with East Wayne, Eureka and Pikeville-Pleasant Grove fire departments.
* Public comments will be taken at 10 a.m. People will have four minutes to comment on their topic of choice.