Nearly $400,000 in renovations to the Sampson County Board of Commissioners meeting quarters and the old Department of Social Services building could be completed by October 2009.

But the exact cost of everything from furniture to fixings in the room commissioners will use for their meeting apparently isn’t known.

County manager Scott Sauer said he wasn’t sure an itemized list of costs was available, and finance officer Sylvia Blinson said if one did exist it would be with public works director Lee Cannady.

Attempts to contact Cannady were unsucessful throughout the week.

Commissioners decided a few weeks back to move forward with the project although they had delayed construction of both Charles E. Perry Elementary school and the Sampson Community Child Development Center.

Their reasoning for delaying those projects was a downturn in the economy and a desire to keep the tax rate down in 2009.

But commissioners voted 4-1 to move forward with renovations to their own auditorium and the old DSS building, saying funds to do so were already built into the current tax rate.

Controversy surrounding the project started when USDA area director Ed Causey sent a letter to the Board of Commissioners recommending that either the board move forward with the renovations or scrap the project entirely.

The renovations which will be performed by the construction firm of FASCO received the lowest bid at exactly $394,000, stated Blinson.

In an interview, Sauer expressed that the project, which is funded through the existing tax rate, will be used to help fix leaks to the ceiling and build a new roof on the old DSS building. Also, the funds may be used to carpet the aging facility, which is 30 years old.

As for the auditorium, Sauer explained that the renovation will require “gutting the entire room.” He added, “There is asbestos in the ceiling that needs to be removed.”

In addition, the renovations will require that the room become compliant with the American. Disabilities Act.

“Having steps is just not in compliance,” stated Sauer. In addition, he noted that the sound system will be replaced to allow for broadcasts and taping of meetings.

The exact costs that will go into the furniture in that room have not been decided, stated Sauer. “There is a dollar amount for furniture, fixtures and equipment, but that will be the last to get ordered,” he said.

Signs in front of buildings

Some may have noticed new signs at the county complex, helping to direct residents to their designated buildings.

Those signs were bought by the county at a price tag of approximately $38,000, explained Blinson.

Sauer remarked that those signs were bought to help make the county building complex seem more like a “campus.”