Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop director Devin Miller discussed plans for remodeling/repairing the workshop with the Stoddard County SB40 Board. The discussion took place at the March meeting of the SB40 Board.
Contractor Tom Null addressed the board at the January meeting in regards to the repairs. Null walked through the sheltered workshop prior to the meeting to view the needed repairs. Null said there were different ways to address the roof. Null stated a preliminary estimate to replace/repair the metal roof would be about $500,000.
Miller said he went back to the drawing board and discussed an approach with the Sheltered Workshop Board. Miller said he was concerned the workshop could be nickle and dimed until they could not afford to proceed any further with the potential high cost of repairs.
“What I decided to do was sit down and try to come up with a plan,” said Miller. “What if I sat down with a contractor and I said, ‘Hey, let’s look at the whole building. Let’s look at what it is going to take to phase this thing out. Look at the whole structure itself.’”
Miller said he wanted to look at the cost of replacing the metal on the outside of the building. He further stated the structure itself was fine and the structure had a good concrete base. Miller said he wanted to see what could be done to make the workshop look nice. He wanted to look at fixing the roof, drainage and any other issues needing to be addressed. Miller said with the restrooms now redone, he wanted the rest of the facility to look nice as well.
Miller said he was scheduled to meet with Rick Shipman on Friday, March 18, to discuss possible approaches to the repairs. Miller said he was aware that Null had walked through the building and given an estimate on what he believed the cost could be. He went on to say that he wanted to take a step back and look at the whole picture. He also said he would like to get blue prints drawn up so he and the board could plan a way forward.
Board member Don Rhodes said Null is waiting on a call from Miller to find out what he wants done so he can submit a bid. Miller said he had no issue talking to Null but had not done so because he understood Null be dealing with a medical issue. Rhodes said he was but is now recovered. Miller said he had no problem talking to Null or anyone else. He said as far as he was concerned, the more opinions they had the better it was.
Rhodes questioned wether the metal would have to come off the building, saying the first thing that needed to be repaired were the walls moved in. Miller said the metal would have to come off the building in order to do that.
Stoddard County Commissioner Steve Jordan, who was in attendance, then informed both Miller and the board that bids had to be submitted before any work could proceed. Both the board and Miller said they understood this.
The board asked Miller to have some plans drawn up so they could view them and determine how to phase out the project. They would then be able to bid out each phase as it comes time to do each respective phase.
Stoddard County ARC
The report for the Stoddard County ARC was given by Courtney Moore. Moore said the ARC’s transportation director is working on multiple grants and hopes to have them turned in soon. Moore also said new staff have been hired but more is needed for the group homes and dayhab.
She said a planned remodel of the Boucher Street group home is waiting on the arrival of parts for the new shower fixtures. Classroom updates for the clients are also planned.
Other Business
Board member Danny Griffen presided over the meeting in place of board chairman Josh Hester, who could not attend. Griffen said three members were about to have their terms expire in June. They are Mark Avery, Don Rhodes and Judy Overbey. Griffen said the three members needed to decide if they would like to be reappointed and submit their decision in writing to the Stoddard County Commission. The commission will then decide wether to reappoint any members that wish to be.
A rough draft of the audit was given to the board. It was sent by auditor Patrick Kitner. This was presented for the board to review. No decision will be made on the audit until it is presented in its completed form.