Clarendon County officials say a number of capital projects are moving forward across the county, with several nearing completion and others still in early stages of planning, permitting or funding.
During his administrator’s report at the Mar. 9 Clarendon County Council meeting, County Administrator Walt Ackerman pointed council members to the latest capital projects update included in their meeting packets.
“We’re making great strides on many projects,” Ackerman said. “Some are really just getting underway. Some are very near completion. And then there are some that are everything in between.”
Among the county’s largest ongoing projects is the new Emergency Operations Center/Dispatch Communications Center. According to the capital projects report, the facility is being designed by Caplea Coe Architects and built by Pyramid Contracting, with a base bid of $9,044,848. Site work remains underway, including drainage improvements around the building pad. The report notes a possible change order not to exceed $25,000, with a projected completion date of Dec. 18.
Work is also continuing on SCIIP Phase V, a water infrastructure project. The county report states AC Schultes is expected to install a well pump in mid-March, while Pittsburg Tank is finishing the final stages of tank installation. Electrical and painting work should be completed by Mar. 23. A related final well house contract is now in the process of being awarded to Barwick Construction. Substantial completion is projected for June 1, with final completion expected by Oct. 1.
At the Public Works/Fleet Maintenance and Animal Control facility, Hawkins and Kolb continue work on the public works building, including fire suppression and sheetrock installation. The animal control building is complete, and crews are now working on electrical, plumbing and HVAC rough-ins. County officials are also pricing security and alarm systems for both buildings. The report estimates the project could be finished by July or August, with a contract completion date of Nov. 24.
At the Turbeville Library, county officials reported that contractor work is expected to begin soon after planning department permit corrections are completed. Third-party inspections are being arranged, and a groundbreaking ceremony is being scheduled. The project is funded by the South Carolina Legislature and the Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation.
The Summerton North Shore project is nearing completion. According to the report, the development board project is awaiting electrical service from Santee Electric, while a generator is expected to arrive in mid-March. Completion was listed for Mar. 15.
Renovations at the Clarendon Community Complex are also moving forward. Exterior work, including tuckpointing and gutter work, is ongoing. Once that is complete, crews will begin interior cleaning, with county officials targeting a mid-April interior finish. The projected completion date is May 31.
Other projects remain in earlier stages.
A $950,000 Newman Branch project focused on clearing beaver dams and restoring flow has been awarded to Ecological Associates Inc. The report states 82 beavers have been removed so far, with 33 dams identified. Contractors are preparing to remove six to seven dams and continue trapping in areas where beavers have returned. The completion date has been extended to Jan. 27, 2027.
At J.C. Britton Park, county officials are seeking additional funding for a project to enlarge the building and add outdoor facilities. The county has already received $1 million in funding, but no completion date has been set.
The Patriot Road well infrastructure project, the Sheriff’s Building at the Manning Firing Range and several drainage projects across the county also remain in progress, according to the report.
