The Pulaski County Courthouse elevator replacement project could be in jeopardy because the county council failed to make funding arrangements ahead of time. That was the fear that Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston shared during Monday’s council meeting.
“Because this money hadn’t all been set aside previously, there was a chance that the check wasn’t going to be given to the construction company as it was agreed to in the construction agreement,” Johnston told council members. “That made him extremely nervous, so that became a major point at the last progress meeting, and if we miss a payment to him, he’s going to stop construction and pull off the project. He’ll be done with it.”
Pulaski County is on a strict timeline to get the courthouse into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, following a class action lawsuit.
Johnston explained that the first construction bill for just over $98,000 has been paid, thanks to an additional appropriation finalized by the county council Monday. But another bill has come in for nearly $28,000, and there’s currently no money allocated to pay it.
To cover that and all remaining project bills, council members agreed to advertise an additional appropriation request for $389,000 out of the County Economic Development Income Tax Fund. That would be up for consideration at next month’s meeting. Johnston was concerned that wouldn’t be soon enough. The two county commissioners in attendance agreed to transfer the necessary funds to pay the $28,000 during their meeting next week.
Meanwhile, Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer asked why the additional appropriation should be taken out of CEDIT, if there was money available in the Cumulative Building Fund. He noted that CEDIT is the CDC’s only option for any large-scale projects that may arise.
