Commissioners seek bids for Ranchettes Community Center renovations

Published 3:00 pm Monday, December 4, 2017

LIVE OAK — The Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners is seeking bids for renovations to the Ranchettes Community Center.

Commissioner Ronnie Richardson presented the commissioners with three options at Wednesday’s meeting.

Option A would renovate the existing bathrooms to meet ADA requirements, establish a proper door opening, repair and sheetrock existing walls and ceilings, paint all renovated walls and ceilings, install new lighting, install vinyl flooring in bathrooms and hallways and repair damage to HVAC duct work.

Option A is estimated at $7,500.

Option B would lower the existing floor to main area floor height and install concrete floor, install ADA compliant sink and toilet, establish a proper door opening, repair and sheetrock existing walls and ceilings, paint all renovated walls and ceilings, install new lighting, install vinyl flooring in bathrooms and hallways, lower exterior walls to set new concrete slab, install new lift station to pump waste to septic tank and repair damage to HVAC duct work.

Option B is estimated at $11,000.

Option C would renovate existing bathrooms by repairing walls and overlaying them with sheetrock, paint renovated surfaces, replace existing lavatory, reuse existing toilets, install new lighting, install vinyl flooring in bathrooms and hallways area, remove existing ramp and install steps to bathroom hallway and repair damage to HVAC duct work.

Option C is estimated at $4,200 with a monthly charge of $125 for ADA compliant portable toilet rental.

“I believe we could do better by getting all of the work done at one time,” Richardson said.

He recommended going with Option B.

He said he felt Option C would just be patching the problem.

Commissioner Clyde Fleming asked how often the building is being utilized.

Richardson said due to all of the issues with the building, it is not being utilized often.

Richardson said the center looks like an abandoned building.

“This is an opportunity for us to make the Ranchettes Community Center a little bit more presentable for the county and for the community as well,” Richardson said.

The commissioners will seek bids on the renovations outlined in Option B.

Chair, Vice-Chair elected

The commissioners held an election for the Chairman and Vice Chairman for 2018.

By an unanimous vote, Commissioner Ricky Gamble was re-elected as chairman.

Commissioner Clyde Fleming was unanimously re-elected as vice-chairman.