By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Adams
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Wayne-Adams.jpgAdams

NEWBERRY — Newberry County Council has picked five Capital Project Sales Tax projects to submit to the CPST Commission.

“There will be other submissions, but these five came from the council and staff,” County Administrator Wayne Adams said. “There will also be submissions from other qualified entities. We will also received notice of intent for projects from some entities.”

Projects submitted to the commission must fall under standards set forth by South Carolina law. Projects can consist of, but not limited to, items such as roads, administration buildings, cultural, historic facilities, water and sewer and flood control projects.

“The preliminary estimate on total collections is $17.5 million. Of this amount, about $15.5 million could be bonded,” Adams said.

The five staff and council recommended projects are emergency services training center and fire department relocation, 800 MHz radio system for emergency services, new detention center (or repairs), Newberry County Courthouse basement work and the bridges in Lynch’s Woods.

There is certain criteria that projects must meet to receive council’s sponsorship. This includes accurate construction cost estimation, post construction operating cost (eight years), complete listing of revenue line items, provisions for cost overruns, county ownership of the property involved and compliance with all CPST Commission requirements.

The emergency service training center and fire department relocation would involve the relocation of Friendly Fire Department and the city of Newberry’s Wilson Road Station to Cavanaugh property. Also located there would be a fire training center and classroom space. There could be a potential future addition which could include an indoor firing range for law enforcement. According to Adams this project is expected to cost around two to four million dollars.

The 800 MHz radio system for emergency system is a state-of-the-art radio communications system that would serve fire departments, rescue squads, hazmat, emergency medical service and lawn enforcement. This new communications system would allow Newberry County first responders to speak with other counties who also have the system, like Richland County. At this time the estimated cost is not known.

A suggestion was made for either a new detention center, or repairs to the existing center. Preliminary estimates suggest that a new detention center would cost at least $15 million.

“The rule of thumb is currently $250 per square foot. Estimates on needed repairs to the current facility range from $1-$2 million,” Adams said. “It is not known how long such repairs will extend the life of the facility.”

Shane Kitchen, jail director, said that the original building was built in the 1970s, and was remolded in the early 2000s. Currently the roof and the plumbing have issues.

“We had raw sewage backing up in housing units, and the roof leaks in multiple locations,” Kitchen said. “The ventilation is not up to par, and there are mold and mildew issues in the showers.”

Kitchen also said there were housing limitations, including the fact that they only have one female facility.

Councilman Leslie Hipp said that he had no doubt that it would be beneficially to have a new jail. However, there were a lot of factors were at play.

“The cost of a new jail is $15 million, and if we do not use the CPST to fund we would have to increase the property tax eight to 10 mills,” he said. “Another issue, this could sink the CPST vote. The commission has to put together a worth while projects, and projects that voters will support.”

Hipp would like to see an engineering firm to inspect the building to see what it would take to repair it. Adams included that it may be worth while for council to tour the building.

“Another item I know we have to find some degree of funding is the courthouse. This seems to be a good opportunity to not take from the tax base,” Hipp said. “Since the courthouse qualifies, this is something to consider.”

The courthouse work would be for the work on the basement. At the moment, the council is still deciding what action they would like to take when it comes to the basement.

Council would also like to submit a project for the remaining bridges in Lynch’s Woods. According to Adams, the cost of this project should not be too high.

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.