News

Commissioners OK $13M emergency services complex

By Bill Moss, Published: July 20, 2016

Henderson County will be getting a new emergency management complex on the site of the old Balfour Elementary School.
The county Board of Commissioners on Wednesday authorized the $13.6 million project, over the objection of one commissioner who called it too expensive. The complex will house the county ambulance service, emergency management operations and the rescue squad. The three components of emergency services are now in separate locations in Hendersonville.
“The users have really worked together trying to maximize utilization of this facility and minimize the amount of space not being utilized throughout the day,” said Chad Roberson, the architect for the job.
The 47,200-square-foot facility on 13.6 acres will be built in roughly the same place as the Balfour Education Center, which will be bulldozed.
“All of those facilities will be demolished and torn down … except for BRCC’s mechanical facility,” Roberson said.
Commissioner Bill Lapsley, who opposed the project as too expensive when the cost was estimated at $2 million less, voted no again.
“I think this is too much money to spend on the project,” he said. “I approved the project but I think it’s too much money.”
In response, Roberson said the estimate covers all soft costs, contingency, surveys, preconstruction work, site work and “escalation cost” — the expected construction market inflation between now and when bids would be solicited. The original numbers did not include site work, he added.
“As Mr. Wyatt likes to say, It is a ‘toilet paper in the roll’ price,” Roberson said.
Reusing a Blue Ridge Community College auto mechanics training garage also adds to the value for the county, commissioners and County Manager Steve Wyatt said.
“That facility is superior to what the county has now, especially when it comes to working on larger vehicles,” Wyatt said. “The current facility does not have lift capability. This one does. We believe there’s a potential to utilize that for the county garage. The potential is do everything. There’s been a need to upgrade that facility for some time.”
Commissioner Grady Hawkins endorsed the project despite the higher cost.
“I think we’re getting a synergistic effect if we’re able to use the garage down there and relocate our current facility, which is pretty well outdated and unable to do the maintenance,” he said.

Construction is not expected to start until the school year ends for Balfour Education Center students in June of 2017. The Balfour programs and the Early College High School are moving to a new building, called the Innovative High School, on the BRCC campus.