ALEXANDER COUNTY, NC (July 24, 2019) – The Alexander County Board of Commissioners awarded a bid for the upcoming water line extension project at the July 22nd meeting.
Commissioners awarded the bid to Buckeye Bridge LLC in the amount of $4,699,248. The project budget also includes $117,481 in contingency funding.
County Manager Rick French said Buckeye Bridge was the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. He noted that Buckeye Bridge completed the Shurtape sewer line project, so the county has prior experience with the company.
The bid award is tentative until approved by the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ).
The water line extension project will add 71,090 feet of new water lines that could serve 295 households. The project is being funded with zero-interest and low-interest loans from the North Carolina Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
Eight-inch water lines will be installed on portions of Zeb Watts Road, Liberty Grove Church Road, Dula Loop, Ned Herman Road, Poly Bowman Road, Deal Farm Lane, Kirkpatrick Lane, Espie Little Road, Icard Ridge Road, Teague Town Road, B&T Lane, and Fox Court.
Once construction begins, the project is expected to take approximately 300 days.
In other business:
• Commissioners received an update on the upcoming NC Hwy. 127 widening project from Brian Horton, WPCOG Transportation Planning Manager, and Michael Poe, NCDOT Division 12 Project Development Engineer. Horton said the project is currently in the design phase, with plans for a four-lane divided highway with a median from Richey Road to Cloninger Mill Road in Catawba County. Horton shared designs for a multi-use path, which could be located on the west side of the road, and a sidewalk with a bicycle lane, which could be located on the east side of the road. Poe said the current NCDOT policy for construction of sidewalks or multi-use paths is a 30 percent match by the county. Because this is a milestone in the project’s development, commissioners approved proceeding with the planning of either a multi-use path or a sidewalk and bike lane; however, it remains a non-binding agreement. Poe said that NCDOT is planning a public input meeting for late fall 2019 regarding the NC 127 plans.
• Alexander County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was recognized for earning the American Heart Association’s “Mission: Lifeline Silver Plus Award” for its excellence in the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.
• Following the regular meeting, commissioners convened the first meeting of the Alexander County Consolidated Human Services Board. At their May 6, 2019 meeting, commissioners approved the creation of the consolidated human services board which abolished the Board of Health, Social Services Board, and the Senior Center Advisory Board, and conferred the powers of those boards to the Board of Commissioners.
The goal of the consolidation is to provide commissioners oversight which will lead to improved services for the citizens of Alexander County.
Leeanne Whisnant, Director of the Alexander County Consolidated Human Services Agency, expressed her appreciation to commissioners for their willingness to serve in this expanded capacity.
Patricia Baker, Director of the Alexander County Department of Social Services (DSS), provided a brief orientation of DSS’s role in the community. Leeanne Whisnant provided an orientation session for the health department. Christine Gates, Director of the Alexander County Senior Center, provided an orientation for the senior center. These presentations were intended to give the board an overview of the missions, programs, and services provided by each department.
The board ended the meeting with the adoption of a confidentiality policy. The next meeting of the Alexander County Consolidated Human Services Board is set for September 9th following that month’s regular meeting of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners.
The next meeting of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, August 5th at 6:00 p.m. in room #103 at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education, located at 345 Industrial Boulevard in Taylorsville.
Meetings of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners are recorded and available for viewing on the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/alexandercountync. The meetings may also be viewed on the Alexander County Government Channel on Spectrum channel 192.