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 the community was asking for,” the county project lead said during the presentation, noting many items would be paid from the project’s existing budget and a furniture/fixtures allocation.

Major items in the renovation estimate include a splash pad ($117,000), a full kitchen renovation with new hood and appliances ($70,889), a new small‑children’s playground ($54,700), new interior flooring ($23,000), new security cameras ($14,000), LED lighting upgrades ($18,900), acoustical ceiling tiles ($10,900), interior patching and painting ($8,500), IT upgrades and Chromebooks (from the FF&E budget), paving and striping of the gravel parking area, and low‑maintenance landscaping. County staff said $59,000 was set aside for owner‑supplied furniture, fixtures and equipment.

Several commissioners pressed staff on procurement and cost control. “I just don't see how $800,000 needs to go in that building,” Commissioner Long said, noting the building’s condition appeared sound and questioning some line items. County project staff and others responded that the figure was a conservative budget estimate and that buyouts and competitive contracting would reduce final cost; staff pledged to return any savings to the county and to monitor contractor buyout closely.

Commissioners and community members repeatedly emphasized the center’s intended role as an after‑school and community hub. Commissioners asked that the 60‑day plan include who will operate the center, budget and accounting practices, program scope (after‑school tutoring/mentoring, seniors, recreational activities), staffing or tenant arrangements, liability and security plans (including staffing/monitoring for the splash pad), and measurable accountability benchmarks.

Several speakers also recounted history and local interest in the facility: commissioners said the building had been closed roughly two years, that the project had been funded with SPLOST monies approved by voters, and that neighborhood residents want a reliable, long‑running program. County staff said the renovation schedule aims to finish by mid‑July so the center could host summer programs and be in regular use by the new school year in August.

The board also amended the meeting agenda to add the Nelson Heights item before voting. The amendment and the contract action were presented as part of a larger set of facility work being managed by Sunbelt Builders, the county’s design‑build contractor for several SPLOST projects.

The board directive requires staff to return within 60 days with a specific operations plan that addresses program management, financial accountability, maintenance and security, and community engagement. Commissioners said they expect the plan to include community input but to be completed on an accelerated timetable so renovation and program start‑up are coordinated.

The county did not provide a final construction schedule in the meeting beyond the mid‑July target; staff said final timing would depend on buyout and permitting steps once the amendment is executed.