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Cramerton board approves contractor for downtown stormwater, parking and event-space project
Summary
The Town of Cramerton Board of Commissioners on March 23 approved contracting authority to finalize a construction agreement for the Downtown Stormwater/Parking/Event Space capital project and set a spring start date; the bid record shows Draw Enterprises as the lowest bidder but staff said it could not be certified.
The Town of Cramerton Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on March 23 to direct town counsel, the town manager and the project engineers to finalize a construction contract for the Downtown Stormwater/Parking/Event Space capital project.
Engineer Danny Watkins of LaBella presented the board with three responsive bids: Draw Enterprises, Inc., $598,615.50; Site Services of the Carolinas, LLC, $785,968.05; and Showalter Construction Company, Inc., $975,791.25. "Draw Enterprises was the lowest bidder but could not be certified for this project," Watkins said, and he reported that Site Services of the Carolinas had strong references.
Commissioner Helms moved to approve the certified lowest responsive bidder and authorize staff and counsel to finalize the contract; Commissioner Kincaid seconded and the motion passed 5-0 (Mayor Nelson Wills; Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley; Commissioners Atkinson, Kincaid, Ramsey, Helms). The motion text recorded in the minutes identified the contractor name used in the board action; the bid tabulation earlier in the minutes lists the bidder as "Site Services of the Carolinas, LLC," while the motion text later refers to "Site Selections of the Carolinas, LLC." The minutes contain this inconsistency and the town is expected to confirm the contractor name in the final contract documents.
Watkins told the board construction was expected to begin in early April, with substantial completion in mid to late August and the shade-sail area finished by September. He recommended using a temporary construction entrance off Eighth Avenue to limit construction traffic on Center Street and noted Ninth Street would need to be closed at some point, with detours to be announced in advance. The board discussed contract controls: a five percent contingency was included and staff confirmed any unused contingency would be returned to the town.
Watkins also warned of supply delays: reinforced concrete pipe could face an 8–20 week delivery delay, a factor that may affect the schedule and will be managed in coordination with the contractor. The board did not amend the funding amounts or the contingency at the meeting; specifics of funding sources and the final contract price were not specified in the minutes and remain to be documented in the executed contract.
The board directed staff to finalize contract paperwork and to notify affected residents and businesses about detours and timing once the schedule is firm.