County has questions on rec center add-on

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(May 4, 2023) The Worcester County Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve the solicitation of bids for the construction of a storage addition to the recreation center in Snow Hill on Tuesday, but not before some discussion about how county staff went about the process.

The funding for the project comes from the county’s Program Open Space grant, with $623,000 approved for it. County staff said that the storage facility is needed to address the overflow of fitness and youth sports equipment that is spilling over into the gym area of the recreation center.

Architectural drawings and specifications were provided to the county by the Salisbury-based Becker Morgan Group.

“This is a storage shed. Do we really need Becker Morgan (to come out on this)?” Commissioner Joe Mitrecic asked.

“I think before we move forward with plans for these types of projects, we need to put out a (request for proposal) for design,” Mitrecic said. “I haven’t seen (that), I don’t know what it entails. A storage shed to me means

(four walls, a floor and a roof) … I don’t think we need Becker Morgan to draw up a storage shed. That’s just my opinion.”

Mitrecic clarified that he ultimately supports the need for the storage shed.

“Before we start doing these kinds of projects, we need to send out an RFP for the design first and see what we come back with,” he said. “think we could’ve gotten a high school draft student to draw up this shed.”

Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young pointed out that the footprint of the storage shed is a “sizable addition” that involves some utility relocation work.

“I’m not discounting anything that’s been mentioned but we have the solar installation behind the property, (it) has utilities running through this spot so again it’s a little more than say an Amish-built shed in the backyard somewhere. This is a building addition with utility (relocations) and it’s needed for that facility.

Mitrecic agreed that it’s not as simple as a backyard shed, but that no matter the degree of complexity, chances are that, had the county sent out an RFP, a firm the size of Becker Morgan would not have been needed.

Commissioners Caryn Abbott and Eric Fiori agreed with Mitrecic, with

Fiori saying that the designs, which indicate it will affect three-quarters of the existing building are perhaps a bit too complex.

“Looking backward on this, maybe (don’t) try to tie it into the building so invasively. (That) might be a little bit of cost savings,” Fiori said. “This is a need but again I support Joe saying we don’t need to hire a high-end firm for something like this.”

The next step will be having the commissioners award the construction contract.