Engineering report covers HVAC systems, bridges and roads – Daily Leader

BROOKHAVEN — Lincoln County Engineer Ryan Holmes provided a summary of various projects Monday morning. Holmes provided the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors with an update on the bridges and the HVAC project.

He told the board that Paul Jackson and Son’s should receive all of its equipment by the end of the month for a project to replace and upgrade the HVAC system at the Lincoln County Courthouse. Holmes said they plan to start the first week of December, but may push the project start date to the first of the year.

The last piece of equipment will be shipped on November 20. Holmes said he plans to meet with department heads as the project’s start date approaches and will keep the board updated on developments.

Supervisors voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding to accept $500,000 for the HVAC project courtesy of the state Legislature. In total, the project will cost $2.675 million.

Bridge projects

Auburn Drive is reopened after the bridge project is completed, and the county will now move forward with two new projects. One of the projects will replace the Bethel Road bridge after supervisors granted it the right of way. Holmes said they will set a bid date this week and staff and the board of directors will be authorized to advertise the bid.

The Lott Smith Bridge, located north of Mount Zion Baptist Church, is being prepared for replacement. Holmes said the county already has rights of way over the bridge and will set a bidding date with the state this week. He added that it would be helpful if the Lott Smith and Bethel bridges were put up for bid on the same day.

The Lott Smith Bridge consists of timber components. It will be a project of the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund, Holmes said.

Changes on the roads

Holmes told council that property owners on Commerce Lane have approached council about making the road a public road. The shopping lane is located near the Saints Trail.

To make a private road public, a petition must be filed with the road recorder, then the board attorney will review the petition, the Board of Supervisors will appoint two board members to inspect the road, and then the county engineer will inspect the road. Holmes said the petition has been filed.

In executive session, supervisors voted to reduce the length of the public road on the Big Erne Trail in District 5 from Jackson Liberty Drive. District 5 Supervisor Doug Falvey said part of the road needs to be made private.

Supervisors voted to amend the road registry to shorten the public road by 273 feet to make part of it private. Falvey said a private landowner owns the land on both sides of the road in the area and this will help prevent the illegal activity that previously occurred there.

Prosecutor Greg Malta said there is no procedure for turning part of a dead-end public road into a private one.