Mashburn Construction Co. has received approval for a $1.8 Million contract to perform renovations to Clinton’s city hall so the SC Department of Social Services can move in there.
That action was approved Nov. 21 in a special, called meeting of the Laurens County Council on a 5-0 vote. Laurens County is statutorily required to provide a location for DSS, and it has done so at a building in the Professional Park; but that building has a water problem.
The Laurens County office of the SC Department of Health & Environmental Control already has moved out.
Meanwhile, at its Dec. 9 meeting, Council gave approvals to two economic development-related projects:
— Project Ponderosa, a $55 Million solar farm on 543.7 acres at 330 Holly Grove Church Road, Laurens. Developers are required to invest $2.5 Million over 5 years.
— Project Portland, a $22 Million low emissions concrete crushing and recycling facility at 5377 Frontage Road, Gray Court; no acreage is listed on the agreement exhibits. The same $2.5 Million over 5 years stipulation exists with this development.
The County Council also considered final approval to a fireworks-specific ordinance designed to give the Sheriff’s Office more jurisdiction in resolving disputes between neighbors about shooting fireworks from one property onto another (final reading delayed, sent back to public safety committee); established the upcoming year’s council meeting schedule; agreed to include the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission in the county’s hazard mitigation plan; and heard reports on economic development matters from the Upstate Alliance and transportation safety from the Upper Savannah Council of Governments.
For the DSS offices relocation contract, County Administrator Thomas Higgs was authorized to negotiate the construction and renovation agreement.
He reported to the council that the current DSS location, a 1970/80 vintage building, does not have a moisture barrier; consequently, water comes up through the floor. Tearing out the floor, installing the barrier, and replacing the floor could be a remedy, council was told.
Instead, the county has allowed SC DHEC to move into the former county administration building on Church Street in Laurens.
Now, the county is allowing SC DSS to move into the MS Bailey Municipal Building on North Broad Street in Clinton, once the $1.8 Million in renovations are done.
Clinton has vacant space in that building because School District 56 moved out and into its own dedicated building, off the Springdale Road bypass near Eastside Elementary School. City Police functions have been temporarily located on the municipal building while the Police/Fire headquarters (former city hall also on North Broad St.) is undergoing extensive renovations.
The State will pay $1.5 Million toward the cost of renovations for the DSS move. The County is negotiating with the City of Clinton, the building’s owner, over how the balance will be paid. It is possible that the County could “front-load” some money, while the City decreases the lease payment for an amount of years.
The motion to authorize the construction contact passed on a 5-0 vote.
City of Clinton officials have said they welcome DSS to Uptown Clinton because that will mean more foot traffic for restaurants and businesses. Also, remote work and caseworkers traveling to clients’ homes likely will not result in too many inconveniences for people in Laurens having to travel farther to the office. The Professional Park (current location) is between Laurens and Clinton, near the hospital, while the MS Bailey Municipal Building (new location) is in the heart of Clinton.
The contractor for this renovation project, Mashburn, with corporate headquarters in Columbia, also is a Laurens County contractor for the 3-phase renovation of the Historic Courthouse in downtown Laurens. Roof replacement and exterior work have been done, and renovations now have moved to the iconic building’s interior. Capital Projects Sales Tax money paid for the exterior stabilization and renovation work, and county bond money is paying for the interior work.
The next Laurens County Council meeting will be Jan. 13, 6 p.m. at Hillcrest Complex East, 105 Bolt Dr., Laurens. The meeting is open to the public, and meetings are archived on the county’s website.
