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Commissioner Brown - Public Works - To Approve and Appropriate Fund Balance for the Modernization of Elevators Located Throughout the Gaston County Courthouse (Year 1: $2,050,000 - Community Investment Fund / Year 2: $1,450,000 - Courthouse Parking Deck Fund / Total Project: $3,500,000)
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STAFF CONTACT
Daniel K. Ziehm, PE - Public Works Director - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
Appropriate Fund Balance from the sources indicated and transfer to the General Government Capital Fund.
Year 1 (FY2025): $2,050,000 - Community Investment Fund
Year 2 (FY2026): $1,450,000 - Courthouse Parking Deck Fund
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
Increase revenue and expense in the General Government Capital Fund, via a transfer from the sources indicated.
Year 1 (FY2025): $2,050,000 - Community Investment Fund
Year 2 (FY2026): $1,450,000 - Courthouse Parking Deck Fund
BACKGROUND
The Gaston County Courthouse, located at 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, was constructed as part of the Judicial Campus in 1998 and was opened to the public in 1999. There are seven (7) elevators located throughout the Courthouse: four (4) public elevators, two (2) prisoner elevators, and one (1) judges’ elevator. The elevators are 26 years old and experiencing more mechanical breakdowns, while parts and electrical components for the drive and control systems are becoming more difficult to source. On May 8, 2024, Gaston County experienced two tornados and heavy storm activity and power to the Judicial Campus was lost. When power to the Judicial Campus was restored, a power surge to the elevator controls and drive systems severely damaged those systems rendering the elevators inoperable. The two prisoner elevators were able to be restored to normal service within two days. Two of the public elevators were also returned to limited service. To repair and restore the Judges Elevator took approximately six weeks. Two public elevators currently remain out of service waiting for parts to be sourced and fabricated. The seven elevators located throughout the Courthouse are critical to the movement of the public, judges, staff, and prisoners throughout the building. When the public elevators are non-operable, the building stairways must be opened, leading to an increased need for Sheriff’s Office staffing and decreased building security.
Gaston County Public Works seeks to modernize elevators throughout the Courthouse. Modernizing the elevator systems will ensure efficient and effective Courthouse operations. Modernized elevator systems will have greater reliability and necessary maintenance/service parts will be more readily available. Approval of this Board Action appropriates $2,050,000 of fund balance from the Community Investment Fund in Year 1 and transfers it to the General Government Capital Fund. In Year 2, this Board Action approves the appropriation of $1,450,000 in fund balance from the Courthouse Parking Deck Fund and transfers it to the General Government Capital Fund. Also, approval of this Board Action directs Gaston County Public Works to begin the modernization design and procurement process, authorizes the County Attorney to draft and negotiate any necessary contract documents for the modernization process, and authorizes the County Manager, or his/her designee, to execute any required contract documents.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Budget Change Request (BCR)