Work to transform a former middle school into updated office space for the Vance County Department of Social Services is well underway, and County Manager Jordan McMillen said despite a couple of hiccups, the project is on budget and “coming together nicely.” Move-in dates have been pushed back until late July or August, he added.
Among McMillen’s comments and observations to WIZS News earlier this week, he noted that the renovation project at the former Eaton Johnson Middle School campus is wrapping up – “nearly all of the final finishing touches are currently being completed,” he said.
The flooring has been installed, painting is complete in all but one area, furniture has been installed and the building portion of the project will be nearing completion over the next few weeks, he predicted. The inside work on the building should be finished by mid- to late June – that’s only a couple of weeks behind schedule, he said.
“Contractors ran into unsuitable soils in the parking lot area which delayed most of the site work approximately two months,” McMillen said. Work on the parking lot has resumed after completion of soil testing from outside agencies and, barring weather delays, should be finished in mid- to late July.
Commissioners will hear at their meeting Monday about several change orders that will be recommended, all dealing with HVAC and minor modification in the part of the building that will house the Senior Center.
At this point, the project is about $231,000 under budget, so the change orders – totaling just more than $107,000 – could be absorbed without affecting the overall cost.