Design plans for Town Hall being redrawn

(2/22) "We had a great meeting with the builder and architect, and we were able to scrub the original plans down to get us closer to what we can afford," Burgess Heath Barnes told the Town Council on what is now a monthly update on the new Town Hall. "The architect has taken everything we have told him and is basically redrawing the plans. They said it would take a month or two, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we may see something in time for the March meeting, or at the latest, April."

When the Town began the process several years back to build the Town’s first Town Hall, the Town was prepared to spend $800,000. That estimate, however, was blown out of the water when the bids came in, the lowest bid being $1.6 million. As a result, Barnes and the Council have been actively reevaluating what amenities are needed to create the type of Town Hall they envisioned while reducing the price tag down to a level the Town can afford.

Barnes noted that the builder and architect had recommended several major cost savings that will help get the total down to its $1.1 million goal.

Besides eliminating the basement and attic, which will shave at least $200K off the projected cost, the Town was able to eliminate the front handicap ramp, for a savings of $70,000 (handicapped residents will be able to access the Town Hall via the Hall’s back door). "We also saved a boatload of money by reducing the ceiling heights from 9 to 8 feet. And we replaced the planned flooring, which, while beautiful, was very expensive, with much more durable flooring. Someday down the road, the Town can always replace it, but the flooring we chose still looks nice, and, more importantly, will better withstand day-to-day use".

"We also saved a big chunk of money by simply changing out things like light fixtures. The bottom line is," Barnes said, "I think we’ll get the price tag down to where we can afford it."

Barnes also told the Council that the Town didn’t have to wait until the Town Hall was complete to "draw" from the $400K grant the Town has been given by the State for the Hall. "As soon as we have $400K in bills, we can submit them to the State and they will reimburse us. We don’t have to wait until the Hall is completed."

Commissioner Cutshall said that would greatly ease the ability of the Town to finance the Hall using "cash flow." "We can tap into the General Fund as planned, but will not have to draw it down that much or for that long," he said. "That way, if anything critical comes up somewhere else in the Town where money is needed, we be able to handle it."

Barnes said his only concern/regret is the lack of movement on the interest rate front. "I was hoping that interest rates would be dropping, which would reduce the cost of the loan we will have to eventually take out this year, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen before we have to lock in on the construction loan. But the ability to draw early on the state grant money more than makes up for that."