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County pitches combined fleet garage near Rocky Point; conceptual design bid to go before commissioners May 4
Summary
County staff proposed a combined fleet maintenance facility across from Rocky Point Elementary to serve county, schools and EMS/fire apparatus; staff selected a design-build team for a three-phase conceptual/design/construction approach and proposed a $153,000 conceptual-design contract for commissioners to consider May 4.
Pender County strategic director Sarah Fulton presented a proposal on April 23 for a combined fleet facility to consolidate maintenance for county vehicles, school buses and Pender EMS & Fire apparatus. Fulton said the site across from Rocky Point Elementary is roughly 50to 55 acres and would allow a single construction project, shared training and support spaces, and common heavy equipment such as tire machines and lifts.
Fulton said the county issued an RFQ for design-build services, received 10 responses, interviewed four firms and selected Samet as the most qualified based on prior experience and delivery history. The team identified Creech & Associates as the engineering partner and described a three-phase plan: (1) conceptual site design and soil/suitability mapping, (2) traditional design documents, and (3) construction. Fulton said the conceptual phase would include environmental and soil studies and estimated the initial phase proposal at about $153,000. Staff planned to present the design-build proposal to the Board of County Commissioners on May 4.
Board members voiced support for a joint facility as efficient and economical but repeatedly asked how the school board's share would be funded. Several members noted previously approved bond funds are typically encumbered for voter-specified projects and emphasized the need for a clear funding plan and a separate school-board vote before committing school funds. Fulton and project staff said the conceptual phase would deliver a preliminary cost estimate within roughly 90 days of contract approval, enabling each partner to consider funding and scope decisions.
Officials also raised procurement and regulatory questions about shared work on emergency apparatus and the potential need for clear policies to separate functions and storage for parts and fluids. Fulton said those programmatic and policy details would be resolved during programming and design.
