Efforts are underway to meet the many needs served by the Copper Basin Community Center while the building is repaired from extensive damage caused by a burst water pipe.
Polk County Executive Robby Hatcher said Friday the senior center and tag office were to open yesterday, Tuesday, September 3, and remain open until the repairs begin.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) brought in a portable building Wednesday, August 28, to house the health department. The building is completely self contained and health department officials were working to get it open to the public as soon as possible.
Hatcher said he has been working to get two more portable buildings at the site, one of which has been confirmed.
That building will provide temporary office space for County Clerk Jackie Rogers’ tag office and the senior center director.
The space for the senior center director will allow the Meals on Wheels program and the other grant related activities to continue.
The third building would be used for voting. This would be smaller than the space the senior center offers.
Hatcher said he has asked Supervisor of Elections Nathan Hinton about the possibility of more early voting days with longer hours for the November election because of the large voter turnout expected. That decision is up to the election board.
Hatcher said he has assured Hinton “the county will do whatever they need to do” to assist with a voting location.
Hinton has stressed the importance of keeping voting in the same location as always if there is any way possible.
Repair of the senior center will require extensive tear out and construction, and several steps must be completed before work begins.
All the health department records have to be removed before workers can enter that area.
Hatcher said an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit is needed due to a small amount of asbestos found in the building.
He explained that adhesive used to attach paneling to the drywall in some area was found to have asbestos. Even though the amount is minimal, it has been determined abatement is necessary because construction involves tearing out the drywall to which the paneling is attached.
There is no danger from the condition as it currently exists, which allows the tag office and senior center to remain open.
Too, “nothing structurally has been disturbed,” Hatcher said.
Meanwhile, Hatcher is continuing to look for an option to house senior center activities once construction starts. The current plan is to set up a large, revival type tent on the community center grounds. “Even though it’s not the best of circumstances, it would be somewhere for the seniors to gather. The idea is to get something in place quickly once construction begins,” Hatcher said. He is still hoping that “something will come up” to solve the need for an extended period.