Colleton County awards design-build contracts for SC303 sidewalk and transfer-station repairs

Colleton County Council on Oct. 4 approved resolutions to award design-build contracts for engineering services on SC303 sidewalk improvements and for repair and resurfacing work at the county’s solid-waste transfer station.

Administrator Kevin Griffin told council that the county is choosing a design-build approach because it typically moves projects faster amid contractor shortages. "With a design build the engineer, along with a general contractor, will work with us and negotiate with us to get that design done and what the price would be," Griffin said. He said the county has a budget ceiling it will enforce and that engineers will assess transfer-station floor conditions and the transfer chute, which has not operated as intended.

Councilman Phillip Taylor moved to approve Resolution 22-R-50 awarding the SC303 sidewalk design-build contract; Councilman Art Williams seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Council also approved Resolution 22-R-51 to award design-build services for the transfer-station improvement project, with the motion carrying unanimously.

Why it matters: the transfer station has experienced ongoing wear and spillage problems; council authorized engineers to recommend resurfacing and structural repairs. The SC303 sidewalk project will move forward under a design-build procurement that the administrator said is intended to accelerate delivery.

Next steps: the county will work with selected firms under negotiated scopes and will discuss contract ceilings and funding details in follow-up sessions; Griffin noted the council would discuss maximums and other details in executive session.