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County project manager reports progress on wastewater, courthouse, industrial site and bridge projects
Summary
Fairfield County staff updated council on multiple capital projects including a $45 million wastewater project funded by a nuclear settlement, courthouse renovations nearing occupancy, a 91,000‑square‑foot speculative building, and the Maggie Harris Bridge completed under budget and early.
County project staff on April 28 briefed the Fairfield County Council on progress across multiple capital projects, including wastewater infrastructure, courthouse renovations, industrial-site preparation and bridge construction.
The briefing provides a snapshot of capital work across the county and timing for upcoming occupancy and contractor closeouts.
Mitchell Lathrop, introduced as the county’s project manager and engineer, told the council the county has set aside $45,000,000 from the VC Summer nuclear plant settlement for construction of a wastewater treatment project and that the county has purchased property on the Broad River; an engineering contract has been awarded. Lathrop said an all‑phases contract has been awarded and work is underway on a wastewater connector project with a total estimated cost of $19,000,000, including approximately $10,000,000 from a rural authority and $9,000,000 from the VC Summer settlement.
Lathrop said the county’s courthouse renovation is in a third and final phase. Several doors delayed by supplier backorders should be installed the week after the meeting to allow the county to obtain its certificate of occupancy; staff estimated occupants could move into finished space over the next two weeks and a public walkthrough in early June.
The county’s speculative industrial building is complete and totals about 91,000 square feet; Lathrop said it is ready for a tenant. At the East Peach Road industrial site the county owns 90 acres of a 450‑acre master plan and has received a $500,000 grant for entrance development.
On the connector pump station Lathrop said crews were able to blast rock on site, shortening excavation time. He asked council members to note visible pipe installations along U.S. 321 related to connector work.
Lathrop also highlighted two Fairfield County projects: a south drainage project (grant awards listed in the packet) and a wash rack at the county airport, which he said would be “one of the only places in the state” with an aircraft wash rack. He reported the county poured concrete pads at the county animal shelter and for Bridal (pad for shelter director Joanne), and said the Maggie Harris Bridge was completed on budget and two months ahead of schedule by contractor Smith Rowe of Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Council members asked no substantive follow‑up questions during the presentation.
