The town of Signal Mountain has hit a snag in the Mountain Arts Community Center repair project that is expected to cost the town an additional $12,000.
Updating the town council on the project during their Sept. 11 meeting, Town Manager Boyd Veal said workers initially identified two to four broken joists under the center's main office, in the boiler room area. However, on closer examination, it was determined that 14 joists - pretty much all of the support structures - were broken, Veal reported. In the same area, workers also discovered several pipes that had sagged and come apart.
The estimated cost for these repairs, sans the cost of repairing the joists, is $12,000. The work included in the estimate consists of removing a portion of the old boiler to allow more room to work, re-supporting the active steam pipes, adding two sump pumps, which were going to be put in anyway, plus plumbing and labor dealing with the piping.
The estimate for the joist repairs has not yet been received.
"This doesn't necessarily stop this project; it's a complication," Veal said before requesting additional direction from the council.
The town originally allotted $300,000 for the center's renovation in its FY2019 budget. When the initial bids came in higher than expected, an additional $200,000 was diverted to the project from the $800,000 that had been budgeted to rebuild the Marion and Driver baseball fields.
The center's previously approved renovations include the installation of a sprinkler system, repairs to the front of the building, floor repairs in three different areas, grading to draw water away from the building and keep it from flowing underneath, and the addition of a couple of new sump pumps and vapor barrels under the building in the crawlspace.
Before the council approves an additional $12,000 for the pipe repairs and associated costs, Councilman Dan Landrum said the town's staff needs to look at other repairs necessary in that area.
One complication, said Veal, is that the contractor feels the full cost will be difficult to determine without beginning the other work, though Veal said he is not inclined to begin the work until he is given a better idea of what additional costs may be associated with it.
Repairs to the other parts of the building are still on track, he added, though one holdup has been the contractor's proposal to use drainage methods not included in the plan provided by the engineer hired by the town. After running the contractor's alternative proposals by the engineer, they have, for the most part, decided to move forward with the original plans, Veal said.
Landrum said the Signal Mountain Playhouse could still hold its winter production at the MACC if officials closed the center's office and all the other work had been completed. Last year, he said the playhouse held its winter production at Signal Crest United Methodist Church, but they are required to move the set and props after each performance there.
The playhouse needs to make a decision by the end of October on where to hold the play, which will be presented in January, he said.
MACC Executive Director Barb Storm said that the repairs previously approved by the council are expected to be complete by the end of October.
Landrum added that citizens have put in 865 volunteer hours repairing the building so far.
"It's something the citizens are passionate about," he said. "That's all value being added to the town at no additional cost."
When Mayor Chris Howley asked about the plan moving forward, Veal said it would be added to a work session agenda for further discussion based on Landrum's comments. The project was not included on the agenda for the Sept. 28 work session.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.