Emergency Operations Center/Town Hall
Town Hall is located at 2414 Murray Street. The current Town Hall was built in 1985 on a 0.26 acre site (Lots 9 & 10 Block UU). It is a one story building and began as 2,491 square feet and was renovated in 2005 by Charleston Constructors for $148,000 and is now 3,042 SF. The construction is wood frame on a concrete slab (elevation 11.90'MSL) with brick and vinyl exterior walls.
The Fire Department was built in 1986. It is a 4,990 SF metal building at a slab elevation of 12.21' MSL. Most of this building is used for fire engine parking. The Police Department and Municipal Court are also housed in this building.
The retention building for storage of permanent records is 421 SF.
In 2015, the Town purchased 2412 Murray Street for $96,500 for parking.
Thirty three years later, the Town has 38 employees housed in a space constructed when there were 8-10 employees. The Police Department needs an evidence room, interrogation room, bathroom and shower facilities as well as space for officers. The municipal court needs an area separate from the Police Department. The Town needs an Emergency Operations Center. The Town is housing some staff at the civic center, but they are unable to connect to the Town's server because Internet is unreliable. It is not efficient to house staff in different areas especially outside of its jurisdiction.
In 2014, Colleton County voters passed a referendum to implement a 1 cent sales tax to meet infrastructure needs in Colleton County. The Town applied for and was successful in obtaining $4,000,000 for beach nourishment during that cycle. The 1 cents sales tax cycle is 8 years. The next cycle will begin 2021.
The Town budgeted funds ($50,000) to hire an architect to design a Town Hall Complex and establish a cost so we can submit an application for a new Town Hall Complex in the next 1 cent sales tax cycle. The complex would be constructed on the same site as Town Hall is now, but it would be brought up to the current codes and be elevated. The Town does not plan to borrow funds for this project. If we are unsuccessful in obtaining the 1 cent sales tax, the understanding is the project will not move forward.
Project Manager-Mark Aakhus
Committee-Mayor Moore, Councilman Kizer, Mark Aakhus, Chief Denney Conley, Chief Daniel Seyle, Patrick Brown, Patrick Zemp
Firm-Rosenblum Coe
$50,000
Town Hall Complex Design Committee
Mayor Crawford Moore
Councilman Jerome Kizer
Edye Graves
Katherine Kuntz
Mark Aakhus, Assistant Town Administrator
Patrick Brown, Building Codes Administrator
Documents
Project Updates
The Town Hall Design Committee met to review the draft plans and estimated construction costs from April 21, 2021. The following notes were sent to the architect to be addressed
Notes
- Everyone seemed to really like the general look, design and layout of the buildings.
- General materials: metal roof, hardie board siding, masonry-type siding on bottom, horizontal wood louver design, storefront windows
- Does the cost estimation include site work (grading, site utilities, parking lot paving, landscaping, etc.)?
- Provide temporary office accommodations cost estimate on a monthly rental/square footage basis.
- Are there any additional project costs not listed, other than contingency?
- What is the general layout for entering the Town Hall Lobby (stairs and elevator only)?
- Can you provide an option for the Town Hall entrance with an exterior staircase.
- Will there need to be a retention pond on the site? Location?
- D-2 Seismic considerations?
- Will everything be sprinklered?
- What are the “inherently higher” fire department costs? Commercial kitchen with suppression requirements?
- Payment windows need to be consolidated and located at building entrance.
- General floor plan should feel open.
- Town Hall to have a section of office with glassed offices on perimeter with multipurpose work stations in the middle (similar to Kiawah Town Hall design)
- Discussion of housing the Chamber of Commerce in shared lobby space.
During the annual Council retreat, Council formed a committee to provide input on the complex design.
Meeting was held with Department Heads to determine space needs for the proposed new facility.
The Town failed to negotiate terms of the contract with the initial firm and withdrew award and Council awarded to second highest ranked firm.
Council approved award to the selected firm.
Presentations from short listed firms were made to the selection committee virtually on April 27 and 28. The selection committee recommendation will be presented to Council May 14, 2020.