Newton County OKs $808,200 contract amendment to renovate Nelson Heights Community Center, requires 60‑day operations plan

Newton County commissioners voted to authorize a contract amendment with Sunbelt Builders for $808,200 to move Nelson Heights Community Center renovations into construction and set a 60‑day deadline for staff to report back with a detailed operating and accountability plan.

The vote followed more than an hour of discussion and public comment about the center’s long closure, the community’s expectations for after‑school and senior programming, and concerns about long‑term management and ongoing operating costs. The board recorded a 4‑1 vote to approve the amendment and the 60‑day requirement; the meeting transcript does not list individual roll‑call votes.

The renovation package described by county staff includes interior and exterior repairs and program‑focused upgrades. County project staff said the project’s total budget is $1,000,000, of which roughly $808,200 would fund construction work and program improvements now proposed. “With the exception of the shingle roof…we can cover everything that…