Elk Park town hall project advances
Jamie Shell / (jamie.shell@averyjournal.com)
Elk Park is moving closer to a new town hall.
Elk Park Mayor John Boone reported at the Monday, Feb. 6, board of aldermen meeting that the town had signed contract documents on Friday, Feb. 3, with BB&T to formally complete the town’s requirements on securing a loan toward construction of the new town hall. Bank attorney Louis Loyd was present for the signing, which allows the town to secure funds from the loan total during the course of construction. Upon completion of the project, USDA will pay off the loan, which the town will then pay back to USDA at a lower percentage interest rate than offered through the bank.
Once the bank lender closes the loan, the town will hold a pre-construction conference with architect Bill Dixon, town officials, USDA and likely with necessary contractors to discuss the next steps of the building process.
Boone reported that the town has begun a small portion of deconstruction, removing wormy chestnut wood from the old Town Hall building to preserve and integrate it into the new structure, likely as wainscoting for the new building’s meeting room.
In other news and notes:
• Boone reported that town maintenance staff is conducting regular upkeep on the used backhoe the town recently purchased. He also explained that staff had repaired the area around the town’s lift station, filling a sizable and potentially dangerous hole with gravel and rock to both deal with the mud issue and safety concerns.
• Boone, maintenance supervisor/operator Otis Ward and Tyler Boone are working on the issue of infiltration in the town’s manhole system. Ward reported that over time, the cement used in the construction of the manholes wears and erodes naturally with the steady flow of water to the town’s wastewater treatment plant. Boone added that the extra water flowing out of the infiltrations means extra chemicals and treatment is necessary, which causes the town to incur additional cost. The infiltration is most noticeable when large amounts of rainwater flow through the manhole system. Town staff agreed to monitor the situation and investigate costs for necessary repairs.
• Boone reported that a semi tractor and trailer collided with a fire hydrant near the Bruce King residence, marking a third incident associated with the hydrant. The most recent collision will necessitate major repair, with cost incurred by the insurance company of the semi truck driver’s employer. The town is considering moving the hydrant to a less vulnerable location.
• Boone reported that town well No. 1 was repaired by Braswell Drilling Company. Pipes had cracked within the well, causing them to expel a large amount of air through the pipes. The piping was pulled and replaced at a cost of $1,700.
• Boone informed the board that the salt bin platform at the town’s garage, located at the sewer plant, has been constructed, allowing staff to more easily load salt into trucks for spreading and dispersion on town streets during inclement weather.
• A pillowcase or sheet entered into the Cranberry lift station, breaking the shaft in one of the station’s motors, according to Boone. The town replaced the motor with its spare motor, but wishes to budget funds for next year to purchase a replacement spare motor at an estimated cost of $10,000.
• Aldermen agreed to revise the Lucille Winters Memorial Park sign, updating it with a design featuring a photo of the former mayor, with the intention of unveiling the sign at the grand opening of the new Town Hall once construction is complete.
The next meeting of Elk Park Board of Aldermen will take place at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 5, at the temporary Town Hall on Old Mill Road.
Elk Park Mayor John Boone reported at the Monday, Feb. 6, board of aldermen meeting that the town had signed contract documents on Friday, Feb. 3, with BB&T to formally complete the town’s requirements on securing a loan toward construction of the new town hall. Bank attorney Louis Loyd was present for the signing, which allows the town to secure funds from the loan total during the course of construction. Upon completion of the project, USDA will pay off the loan, which the town will then pay back to USDA at a lower percentage interest rate than offered through the bank.
Once the bank lender closes the loan, the town will hold a pre-construction conference with architect Bill Dixon, town officials, USDA and likely with necessary contractors to discuss the next steps of the building process.
Boone reported that the town has begun a small portion of deconstruction, removing wormy chestnut wood from the old Town Hall building to preserve and integrate it into the new structure, likely as wainscoting for the new building’s meeting room.
In other news and notes:
• Boone reported that town maintenance staff is conducting regular upkeep on the used backhoe the town recently purchased. He also explained that staff had repaired the area around the town’s lift station, filling a sizable and potentially dangerous hole with gravel and rock to both deal with the mud issue and safety concerns.
• Boone, maintenance supervisor/operator Otis Ward and Tyler Boone are working on the issue of infiltration in the town’s manhole system. Ward reported that over time, the cement used in the construction of the manholes wears and erodes naturally with the steady flow of water to the town’s wastewater treatment plant. Boone added that the extra water flowing out of the infiltrations means extra chemicals and treatment is necessary, which causes the town to incur additional cost. The infiltration is most noticeable when large amounts of rainwater flow through the manhole system. Town staff agreed to monitor the situation and investigate costs for necessary repairs.
• Boone reported that a semi tractor and trailer collided with a fire hydrant near the Bruce King residence, marking a third incident associated with the hydrant. The most recent collision will necessitate major repair, with cost incurred by the insurance company of the semi truck driver’s employer. The town is considering moving the hydrant to a less vulnerable location.
• Boone reported that town well No. 1 was repaired by Braswell Drilling Company. Pipes had cracked within the well, causing them to expel a large amount of air through the pipes. The piping was pulled and replaced at a cost of $1,700.
• Boone informed the board that the salt bin platform at the town’s garage, located at the sewer plant, has been constructed, allowing staff to more easily load salt into trucks for spreading and dispersion on town streets during inclement weather.
• A pillowcase or sheet entered into the Cranberry lift station, breaking the shaft in one of the station’s motors, according to Boone. The town replaced the motor with its spare motor, but wishes to budget funds for next year to purchase a replacement spare motor at an estimated cost of $10,000.
• Aldermen agreed to revise the Lucille Winters Memorial Park sign, updating it with a design featuring a photo of the former mayor, with the intention of unveiling the sign at the grand opening of the new Town Hall once construction is complete.
The next meeting of Elk Park Board of Aldermen will take place at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 5, at the temporary Town Hall on Old Mill Road.