By HOLLY GASKILL
Numerous fixes are still needed at the new Highway Department building, Supervisor Shawn Bonar told County Commissioners Monday.
Bonar rattled off half a dozen unresolved items with the facility, including multiple roof leaks, new pipework needed in the vehicle wash bay, and an unfinished HVAC.
Bonar said the project managers went so far as to email about “owners training” with the building and said it didn’t need to be finished for training. “I never responded,” Bonar stated. Commissioner Blake Gerber shook his head in disappointment at this report.
Commissioner Jeff Stringer said he would soon visit the site and confirm with project managers what needed to be resolved, noting that the project was still not considered to be at substantial completion.
Bonar also reported that the department had also received a complaint from Clarence Ostrander about mowing a company property next to his residence on Cherry Street in Bluffton. Ostrander had previously asked the commissioners to release the property to him, saying he had maintained it for a significant time; the commissioners said they would look into the matter. Ostrander has since stopped maintenance of the property, Bonar said.
The commissioner advised the Highway Department could proceed with mowing the property.
Bonar also told commissioners the department has been pushing ahead with their summer projects, using some of the overtime that was not needed in the winter. Bonar also planned to present an annual report at the commissioners’ May 20 meeting.
holly@news-banner.com
