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Pender County approves design-phase contract for countywide fleet garage and several utility vehicles
Summary
Commissioners approved a $153,950 contract for conceptual design and site planning for a countywide fleet garage and approved multiple Pender County Utilities vehicle purchases; funding for the conceptual design will come from general-fund fund balance as a capital project.
The Pender County Board approved a three-phase approach to design and build a countywide fleet garage serving county, emergency services and schools and authorized staff to execute a $153,950 contract with Samet for conceptual design and site planning (Phase 1).
Staff said the project parcel is a 55-acre site at Rocky Point Elementary School Road and Route 117; Phase 1 includes site programming, soil suitability mapping, grading, utilities and stormwater planning and a program plan for shared building space. Commissioners discussed design-build advantages, soils concerns and the need for strong project management and financial tracking. The county intends to return to the board for approvals before beginning later phases.
Separately, the board approved multiple Pender County Utilities capital purchases previously budgeted: two trucks for operations, a lab vehicle, a Maple Hill truck to reduce contractor usage (projected to pay for itself in ~4 years) and a dump-truck replacement. Staff said most items were included in a prior budget year; one line item required a budget adjustment. Commissioners discussed mileage reimbursement and asked staff to seek surplus or interim vehicles until new units arrive.
The manager said funding for the conceptual design would come from general-fund fund balance appropriated to a capital project, and staff said a more detailed total-cost estimate will follow as the design progresses.
