Commissioners receive temporary occupancy permit for Annex building

Carroll County commissioners received their temporary occupancy permit for the county Annex building during their Feb. 26 meeting, allowing departments to begin moving into the facility.

Commissioner Donald Leggett II announced the county received confirmation from the project architect that all required inspections had passed and the temporary permit had been issued.

“We do have it. All the tests have passed, and it’s all legitimate,” Leggett said. “It’s been a little while coming. It took a lot of time and effort and a lot of inspections to get this done.”

Leggett said commissioners had expected to wait up to 10 more days for the permit but received it sooner than anticipated.

The permit allows county offices to begin moving into the building and schedule times for the public to access the facility. The Emergency Management Agency, which had been waiting for approval, can now immediately begin its move.

Commissioners reiterated comments made at a previous meeting regarding long-term savings tied to the Annex project. They have been using off-site storage locations for record retention, and the Annex building will provide ample space for storage.

Leggett previously said the move would save an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 in annual storage fees and generate significant savings for the county over time.

“The public needs to be aware that what spurred us to look for a building is Job and Family Services needs to expand and there is no room,” Commissioner Robert Wirkner said. “This being a big move with so many people, I am sure some will not like it, at the end of the day we are responsible for taxpayer dollars and consolidating three buildings into one will help with that. Maintenance costs will go down without the buildings and where they are going will meet their needs.”

Commissioners also approved $6,609 for roof penetrations at the Annex building. The work includes reconnecting two hot water tank vents that were disconnected during roof replacement and adding three fresh air intake penetrations for office areas.

In an unrelated matter, commissioners approved sending a letter to Smart Way Communications stating the board’s intent to terminate the company’s lease agreement for equipment located on the State Route 9 communications tower.

Commissioner Robert Wirkner said a recent audit of the tower identified equipment for which required ownership and technical information had not been provided. He explained companies have been buying and selling one another at a rapid pace, creating confusion over lease agreements and tower space.

Wirkner said the county requires updated information, including equipment height, weight, broadcast frequencies and emergency contact numbers, to properly manage tower capacity and safety.

In other business, commissioners:

—APPROVED a blanket work order for the village of Leesville for winter maintenance.

—APPROVED a special hauling permit for Miller Logging for hauling over Alamo Road, County Road 8 and Canyon Road 54 in Union Township. A $50,000 bond was provided as required by County Engineer Brian J. Wise.

—RESCINDED a Jan. 12 motion approving a driveway permit for Levi Russell due to an incorrect township location listed on the original permit.

—APPROVED a corrected driveway permit for Levi Russell in Harrison Township.

—APPROVED hiring David Lester as pound keeper effective March 3 at $12.75 per hour. Lester will work part-time up to 28 hours per week with a six-month probationary period.