The Macon County Board of Commissioners finished up old business and made budget amendments in its regular April meeting, hearing updates about ongoing construction at Highlands School and Macon County Public Library and approving a bid for the old service station on East Main Street.
A brief public comments period heard a request from Janet Walker, a swim coach with Macon County Schools, for a covered pool that could give student swimmers an option for wintertime training without needing to utilize Franklin Health and Fitness’ pool, which Walker said uses an excess of chemicals that has left children with rashes and damaged swimwear.
Commissioner Danny Antoine said while the pickleball court renovations have taken priority, a cover for Macon County’s public pool was already planned and construction will begin after the first phase of the project is concluded.
In an update about the Highlands School project, coordinator Joe Allen said that everything is going according to plan and on schedule, with vertical construction just beginning. Allen also provided an update on the state of ongoing repairs to Macon County Public Library, which has seen significant water damage to wood beams, portions of wall, and the roof. Allen said the ceiling and roof repairs would be coming later in the week, and that he expected the damage to be bad and require significant repairs.
In an update about the Macon County pickleball courts construction, phase 1A of the Recreation Master Plan, Allen shared a map of what the courts should look like if construction proceeds according to plan. The map included the courts, what appear to be shade structures, benches and kiosks. The council approved the bid package for McGill Associates.
As part of the ongoing conversation about whether control of the Macon County Animal Services shelter should be retained by the county or passed to a private entity, the board considered whether an outside agency or nonprofit could take over management of the shelter. The board approved a motion for County Manager Warren Cabe to move forward with a request for proposal to see what agencies or nonprofits might be interested and what the difference in costs might be.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a new one-year lease with Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center.
• Approved a bid for the purchase of surplus property from the county. The building at 651 East Main Street, an old service station, was purchased by Linda Huscusson for the price of $175,000.
• Approved a capital project ordinance to allow for various repairs to facilities at the Macon County Airport, funded by $146,452 in federal grant funds.
The next Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.