×

Elkins hires architect for renovation work

The Inter-Mountain photo by Brad Johnson Zach Tysor, center, who has been accepted in the U.S. Air Force Academy, leads the pledge of allegiance at Thursday’s Elkins City Council meeting as Mayor Van Broughton, left, and City Clerk Jessica Sutton look on.

ELKINS — Elkins City Council voted Thursday to hire a local architect to provide design services for renovation projects at Elkins City Hall and the Phil Gainer Community Center.

The city is planning to renovate the Elkins Police Department at City Hall, rehabilitate the masonry facade of City Hall and repair masonry at the first floor loading dock in the building. VanNostrand Architects offered a preliminary budget estimate of $200,000 for the project.

The company will be paid $16,000 for providing construction drawings and specifications; assisting contractors during the bidding phase; evaluating material substitution requests; drafting contracts for constructions; and for providing regular site visits during construction; shop drawing review; certification of applications for payment; and the final inspection with the city inspector.

The Phil Gainer Community Center work will include installing a new HVAC system, a new electrical service and emergency generator, a new roofing assembly on the lower roof, limited masonry restoration at window lintels, and window upgrades. A preliminary budget estimate of $760,000 was offered for the project, with VanNostrand Architects receiving $60,800 for providing similar services as in the City Hall project.

Council voted 8-0 to accept the company’s proposals for design services for each project. First Ward Councilman Bob Woolwine and Third Ward Councilman Carman Metheny were not present at Thursday’s meeting.

Before the votes, First Ward Councilman Robert Chenoweth asked why the design services for the two projects weren’t put out to bid.

Operations Manager Bob Pingley replied that “the amount of time (architect Bryson VanNostrand) already has in City Hall in digitizing the drawings and all that he has done here, I think it puts him head and shoulders above any other bidders there could possibly be.”

Also, “with this amount of dollars we aren’t required by the state to go out for bids,” Pingley said.

The community center, which formerly served as the Elkins National Guard Armory, was purchased by the city for $200,000 in 2014.

The next Elkins City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 21 in City Hall.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today