Robbinsville – Graham County’s ongoing justice center and jail project will soon move into its second phase.
County Project Manager Jason Marino gave an update on the project to the Graham County Board of Commissioners in a special meeting Monday. Marino said he found answers to some questions raised.
“Keep in mind that this is not the final design,” Marino said. “We didn’t intend that initially, because we wanted to be able to get to a company that’ll actually put that out to bid and let us work out how we want that final building, the facade and even some things on the interior to look.”
Marino said he had provided the initial study rendering to the board, and said it would soon be time for the board’s decision to finalize the design and make a request for proposals. Stage II of the project is scheduled to begin within the next few weeks.
The idea of putting solar panels on the roof of the building to save on electric bills was also discussed, with Marino saying the possibility had been visited.
Marino said he would continue working on the building and would be ready for the board to approve a RFP for an architect soon. He said on most projects – like the justice center – the architect firm would manage the project all the way to completion.
He emphasized that the architect would likely know the design of the building the best.
Sworn in
Commissioners Connie Orr, Keith Eller and Jacob Nelms – who won re-election in November – were also sworn in by Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway on Monday.
The meeting also saw a change in the board’s leadership, with Orr being elected chairman and Eller being elected vice-chairman. Commissioner Dale E. Wiggins previously served as chairman, while the previous vice-chairman was commissioner Lynn Cody.