Courthouse m the works
County ‘space crunch’
eased by new facilities
By Terry Pope
County Editor
Some departments will get relief
from a spaee eruneh at the county
government center, ineluding the
crowded courthouse.
The Brunswick County Board of
Commissioners on Monday allocat
ed $1 million to build a 10.000
square-foot building to house the
Brunswick County office of the
Southeastern Center for Mental
Health,.
Also. Grier-Fripp Architects of
Charlotte was hired to design a new
courthouse. The present facility at
the government center near Bolivia
has two courtrooms and a small
claims chamber which have out
grown their effectiveness since
being built 20 years ago.
Commissioners will pull $382,647
of unspent funds from past capital
outlay projects and add it to
$592,500 already in the pot to build
the mental health center behind the
sheriff's department. County
finance director Lithia Horne said
$ 124.668 in surplus was pulled from
a warehouse project and another
$106,634 was never used for library
construction.
Commissioners set aside part of
the funds in the 1997-98 fiscal year
budget, and Southeastern Center
contributed about $400,000. The
building will be owned by the coun
ty
"Before I came here, there was a
plan.to build another building and to
put parks and recreation in there
(mental health),” said county man
ager Jim Varner. “There is a space
need at this complex, a severe space
need.”
The mental health center will need
approximately 7,000 square feet of
space. An undetermined county
department will occupy the remain
ing 3,000 square feet. It has not been
decided which agency will get the
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‘We’ve got several
buildings with five
of more depart
ments in these
buildings. We’ve
got some offices
with three or in
some cases up to
five people sharing
that office space.’
Jeff Phillips
County engineer
old mental health center, but the
adjacent health department is also
facing a space crunch.
“We’ve got several buildings with
five of more departments in these
buildings," said county engineer
Jeff’ Phillips. “We’ve got some
offices with three or in some cases
up to five people sharing that office
space.”
Phillips said it would be cheaper
to build a larger building and make
room lor another department at the
same time. He estimates construc
tion at $100 per square loot. The
location would he adjacent to two
existing parking lots. But in the
future, as the complex continues to
grow, more parking will he needed,
said Phillips.
"They're very excited about that
location." said District 3 commis
sioner Leslie Collier of Long Beach.
A studv done several years ago on
space needs at the courthouse found
the facility was too small when it
was built, with not enough scaling
in the courtrooms and a lack of wait
ing rooms for witnesses or where
attorneys could meet with clients.
An ad hoc committee began meet
ing in July. 1997. to decide, on an
architect who had built North
Carolina courthouses in the past.
Commission chairman Jo Ann
Bellamy Simmons served on the
committee along with clerk of court
Diana Morgan, sheriff Ronald
Hewett. assistant county manager
Robert Hyatt and Phillips. A list of
seven architects was compiled last
November, and three were inter
viewed m February.
The committee met and unani
mously recommended Grier-Fripp
to the hoard of commissioners.
Phillips sgid the firm is the most
experienced at courthouse construc
tion and has excellent references.
Bridge studies
to involve town,
county planners
By Terry Pope
County Editor i
Long Beach resident Rupert Riley asked county officials Monday win
they are in such a hurry to plan the corridor for a second bridge to Oak
Island.
The Brunswick County Planning Department has formed a joint commit
tee with the Town of Long Beach to compare studies done by both. Long
Beach has hired a consultant to help draft its land use plan update, which
includes proposals for a second bridge to the island and how it would
impact traffic and growth.
“What is the rush?” Riley asked the Brunswick County Board of
Commissioners, which did not respond to his question. Riley is president
of Long Beach United for Progress, a political action committee.
Riley said land that is being studied falls under the jurisdiction of the
county and not Long Beach. The N Department of Transportation
(DOT) has selected three possible corridors for the new bridge and a con-.
nector road that may route to the Midway community west of St. James
Plantation.
Depending on the route chosen, one agency indicates it would require a
time-consuming environmental impact study before any construction could
take place, Riley said. It could take years to draft the study.
“Wait for the smoke screen to clear." said Riley. “If it does, you may find
it may be in the wrong place.”
According to county planning director Jeff Coutu, there are at least four
studies underway to help the county and Oak Island towns prepare for
another bridge:
■ County staff and Long Beach planners are working together on the
county’s land use plan update, using the town’s plan as a guide. It will be
discussed by the Brunswick County Planning Board on April 15.
■ Consultants are drafting a Long Beach land use plan update that
includes issues on the mainland side regarding the impact of a second
bridge.
■ State Department of Transportation consultants have drafted an Oak
Island thoroughfare plan which includes specific recommendations for the
widening of roads and connectors ahead of bridge construction.
■ DOT consultants are also at work on a comprehensive Brunswick
County thoroughfare plan with the second bridge corridor a major issue, ’
along with the Northern Outer Loop of Interstate 40 near Leland and other
highway needs.
Coutu said his department realized it needs to better plan for the corridor
and decided to work with Long Beach to incorporate the town’s ideas into
the county’s land use plan update.
“We’ve realized- the county staff needed to be more involved,” said
Coutu.
The joint committee includes Long Beach town manager Jerry Walters
and Coutu, along with a number of town and county planners. The com
mittee hasn’t drafted anything yet but will discuss the Long Beach plan
with the county planning board on April 15.
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