Talking Rock council approves restroom remodel, paving, demolition and adopts county emergency plan

At its March meeting, the Talking Rock Town Council approved a set of special projects intended to improve downtown access and amenities and adopted Pickens County's local emergency operations plan.

Mayor James Bryant and the council voted unanimously to buy restroom hardware for the downtown public restrooms, hire contractors to rebuild and bring the facilities into ADA compliance, repave the parking area near Boxcar Grill and repair Old Federal Road, and remove three small storage buildings near the schoolhouse for landscaping.

The vote package included a $4,426 purchase order for restroom fixtures and hardware; a $19,300 contract with Level 3 Framing for restroom labor; a $25,808.58 paving contract with Johnson Paving plus council authorization to accept up to $10,000 additional if needed after a revised estimate; and a $3,500 contract with Phoenix Landscaping to tear down and grade three small storage buildings near the schoolhouse and seed the area. The council also voted to adopt the Pickens County Local Emergency Operations Plan, a document the mayor said helps secure federal assistance and…