Blue Ridge City Council approved an abatement proposal this week for the depot construction project. The abatement consists of lead-based paint and asbestos removal. According to the proposal, the cost of the paint is $29,929.26, while the asbestos removal costs $8015.96. As such, the total cost is $37,942.22. During the September 11th meeting, Blue Ridge Mayor Donna Whitener said the money for these items will come out of the city’s contingency funds, noting that this amount would exhaust a significant amount of the fund. Council Member Rhonda Thomas made a motion to approve the abatement. Council approved the motion unanimously. Depot contractors Johnson Landscape also submitted another proposal to council for approval.

The second proposal consisted of traffic control devices at a cost of $1350; dumpster at a cost of $150; portable restrooms at cost of $450, Superintendent at a cost of $2100, and general conditions costing $1850, for a total of $5,988.50. Council member Rhonda Thomas questioned the necessity of portable restrooms on the list. Mayor Whitener agreed, but said the dumpster was necessary. Thomas made a motion to table the proposal until the council could discuss these items with Johnson Landscape. Council approved the motion unanimously.

These are not the only obstacles for the project. Several months ago, pipes were replaced at the cost of the city. Also, in June, the city discovered that the foundation of the depot was rotted and riddled with termite damage. The work to repair the foundation cost the city approximately $12,000. In June, council approved to grant the repair work to Unified Enterprises Inc.

The depot construction is part of the Streetscape Project, which started in 2005. Phase I was completed in 2009 and this July, the City of Blue Ridge unveiled Phase II of the project. According to city finance director Alicia Stewart the total cost of Phase II was $450,581.28, where the federal share was $350,000.

See abatement and proposals below.