Robbinsville – Graham County Manager Jason Marino gave an update on the Robbinsville Elementary School gymnasium at Aug. 17’s Graham County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Crews have been looking closely at the gym since late spring, when structural issues with the building became apparent.
“This is a repair – not a demo(lition) – which is probably a better outcome than we all had anticipated,” Marino said. “They feel like the structural integrity – although it was damaged at the bottom of the double brick – it’s not structural to the main skeleton of the facility.”
He said the plan being suggested was not to attempt to move the off-center wall back into place, but to install metal brackets to keep it from moving any further.
“From what was explained to me, they’re not trying to bend the wall back in, but all they’re trying to do is stabilize it in place where it is now to get it to stay for another longer period of time,” Marino said.
He also said the crew had said it was safe to reopen the preschool near the building, although they suggested keeping the nearby playground closed for the time being due to safety concerns with the structure.
DSS opening
Additionally, the board of commissioners held its first interview with a candidate for the vacant Graham County Department of Social Services director position, in a closed-session meeting prior to its workshop session. County Clerk Kim Crisp said the candidate was the sole applicant so far that had been deemed qualified by the state and noted she was waiting for documentation to submit to the state for approval from three other candidates.