Library project off and running
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 6, 2013 1:46 PM
Wayne County commissioners Tuesday established a $300,000 capital project ordinance for the Mount Olive Steele Memorial Library project.
The board also approved initial contracts of $70,000 for demolition and $65,000 for design and engineering with the design/build team of Smith Engineering & Design/Jackson Builders, both of Goldsboro.
"You have these capital ordinances so you can put in the money and you don't have to reappropriate for every thing," County Attorney Borden Parker said. "In the design/build procedure, Jackson Builders met with the county staff to have two separate contracts.
"One was a demolition contract and one was a design contract, which would then be rolled into the final contract. As you know, you have to approve the price on the final (contract) and that is why they wanted these two contracts first."
Parker said he has been working with the firm and recommended that the board adopt an initial capital ordinance since it will have to be amended when the company presents its final contract price.
The $300,000 recommended by Parker was more than the $200,000 initially recommended.
Commissioner Joe Daughtery said it gave him "great pleasure" to make the motion to approve the creation of the capital project ordinance. It was approved 6-0. Commissioner Wayne Aycock did not attend the meeting.
Parker also recommended that the board approve the contracts for demolition and design and engineering.
The demolition contract is for $70,000. However, Parker said he had been told late last week that there was an "asbestos problem" that will have to be abated before the remainder of the demolition project could proceed.
"That is why I asked you to increase the project ordinance," Parker said.
Parker said he had prepared the contracts and sent them to Jackson Builders, but was waiting to hear back from the company.
The contract for the asbestos abatement will somewhat reduce the cost of the demolition contract, he said.
Commissioner Ray Mayo made a motion to accept Parker's recommendations on the contracts. It was approved 6-0.
"Once these two contracts are completed, then they will give you the final price for the design/build," Parker said. "That will come back to you. So will still have your finger on the money that is being spent."
Commissioners awarded the project to Smith Engineering & Design/Jackson Builders on Aug. 6.
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.
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.