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Board approves $320,000 courthouse roof project, adds Pocahontas Landmark Center study; cell‑tower hearing deferred
Summary
Powhatan supervisors approved a $231,700 courthouse membrane replacement with a $89,000 contingency (total $320,000), added a feasibility study for the Pocahontas Landmark Center to the FY26 CIP, and voted 5–0 to defer a telecommunications CUP hearing to March for further applicant work.
The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved three procedural items at its Feb. 23 meeting: a courthouse roof contract, an RFP and CIP addition for a feasibility study of the Pocahontas Landmark Center, and a deferral of a conditional use permit (CUP) public hearing for a proposed telecommunications tower.
Sarah Barnett, deputy county administrator, presented the courthouse roof project, describing two roof systems on the historic courthouse and noting failure areas on the membrane portion. The recommended contract covers membrane replacement extending 12 inches beneath metal panels to reduce seams, additional flashing, and a contingency of about 40 percent. Barnett said the base cost is $231,700 and the contingency adds $89,000, yielding a $320,000 project funded from the county’s roof replacement line, which currently holds approximately $700,000 from prior savings. "Once they get under the roof, we never know what they're going to find," Barnett said in explaining the contingency; the board approved the resolution by voice vote (5–0).
The board also approved resolution R‑2026‑14 to move forward with a feasibility study for the Pocahontas Landmark Center. Staff said the RFP and CIP amendment will allow county and school staff to develop accurate cost estimates and renovation considerations and make the project eligible for FY25 debt funding carried into FY26. A motion to approve passed by voice vote after a brief staff explanation and a member motion and second.
Planning staff reported the applicant for a conditional use permit for a telecommunications tower asked to defer the item after submitting additional engineering and to negotiate equipment issues with the county. The board voted by roll call to accept the applicant’s request to defer the public hearing to the March meeting and directed re‑advertising (5–0).
No committee votes altering funding for schools were made during the meeting; board members reiterated the county and school board are coordinating on the Landmark Center work and encouraged public participation in upcoming budget workshops. The board indicated no closed session was needed and adjourned with no further action.
