The Onslow County Board of Commissioners has approved capital reserve funding and financing for five anticipated county buildings: A courthouse, consolidated-human-services hub, vehicle-maintenance garage and two schools, the Jacksonville Daily News reports.
The work involves as much as $57 million in financing and $16.31 million in contracts for designs or construction of the new facilities.
The newspaper reports that at a regular meeting in August, the board approved:
- Capital funding for a replacement Richlands Elementary School and Onslow County District Courthouse (with an overall budget of $25.34 million.)
- A $14.74 million contract for the first phase of construction of a new Onslow County Consolidated Human Services building. The first phase includes demolition of the Halsey Building in April and construction of the new 85,000-sq. ft. building at the College St. site, according to county documents.
- A $1.3 million bid by Smith Sinnett Architecture of Raleigh for design of a new county courthouse.
- A $250,000 contract to Noland Construction Consulting for consultation and management of the courthouse project.
- Up to $57 million in installment financing for the consolidated human services building, new Onslow County Vehicle Maintenance building and Dixon Middle School.
Commissioner Paul Buchanan said the new consolidated human services building will substitute approximately $366,000 in rent payments by the Onslow County Department of Social Services.
“The county may proceed immediately with work and design of a new courthouse,” county manager Jeff Hudson said at the meeting’s end.
Clancy & Theys of Wilmington was the “lowest, responsible bidder” for the first phase of the social service building, which includes demolition of the Halsey Building — finished in April — and construction of the new 85,000 sq. ft. building at the same College St. site, the newspaper reported.