Group to rate proposals for new Complex

Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian is assembling a group of County staff to study the architectural proposals for the County Complex and rate their caliber.

The group's recommendations will then be returned to County Council for review.

Council Chairman Ronnie Young requested that Killian take this step Tuesday, asking that the proposals be ranked from one to 13 with one being the best.

Seventy-eight registered and suggested companies were notified of the opportunity to submit proposals, and 13 responded.

The firms that responded are MBAJ Architecture of Charlotte, N.C.; Hughes Beattie O'Neal Law & Associates and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture of Aiken; Rosser International Inc. of Atlanta.; LS3P Associates Ltd. of Columbia; Rule Joy Trammel & Robio of Atlanta; The Boudreaux Group of Columbia; Cooper Cary Inc. of Atlanta; The LPA Group Inc. of Columbia; Moseley Architects of Charlotte, N.C.; Clark Patterson Lee of Greenville; ecotekt of Charlotte, N.C.; Perkins+Will of Charlotte, N.C.; and Johnston Design Group of Greenville.

The firms were asked to submit plans on the design and construction of 120,000 new square feet on the site, coupled with the building's existing 66,000 square feet.

Killian said the group studying the proposals will likely be comprised of himself, Assistant Administrators Todd Glover and Brian Sanders, County Engineer Joe Berry and one or two others.

In other business Tuesday, County Council:

SBlt Unanimously passed on third reading the proposed ordinance to approve the enlargement of Valley Public Service Authority's (VPSA) boundaries to include those areas currently served by Avondale Mills water and sewer.

This is another step in the ongoing process of transferring ownership of the system to VPSA from Avondale. In September, VPSA entered an agreement with Avondale to take over the system.

In related matters, Council unanimously approved executing a sewer system purchase agreement for $0 between it and Avondale so the County will poised to begin the rehab work once $4 million in stimulus money is cleared for the work. The County will transfer the sewer system to VPSA as soon as practicable when the work is completed.

Council also unanimously approved on second reading a proposed ordinance authorizing a loan agreement with the state for the stimulus money needed to overhaul the aging sewer lines. The agreement would allow the County to draw up to $4 million as it incurs expenses while the work is ongoing.

There will be third and final reading and public hearing on the loan agreement at the Dec. 8 meeting.

SBltApproved Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt's request for $350,000 of one-cent sales tax money for 11 new Crown Victorias to replace cars with high mileage, some with 140,000 miles on the odometer. Hunt originally asked for 22 new cars but compromised with Council to receive half now and half in the spring.

SBltApproved a $100 holiday bonus for every County employee on the payroll from a surplus in County funds achieved through careful budgeting and the hiring freeze.