The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

December 29, 2009

Cost of Embarq building to be presented soon

W. TERRY SMITH

It will be another week before Edgecombe County officials know what it is going to cost to prepare the newly acquired Embarq buildings downtown for use by the county Health Department and county Department of Social Services.

Smith Sinnett Architecture of Raleigh is scheduled to make a presentation to the county Board of Commissioners at its monthly meeting 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4 at the County Administration Building.

The county bought the buildings on Saint James Street and four parking lots in June for $787,000. The buildings have a total tax value of about $4 million.

“It is a real good deal,” said County Manager Lorenzo Carmon. “We paid about $10 a square foot. “Our architect told me of a place in Raleigh that is going to cost $225 per square foot.”

One building is six stories and 59,248 square feet. The other, the original Carolina Telephone Co headquarters, was built in 1912 and with three stories was the town’s first skyscraper. It has 11,520 square feet.

“The use of both buildings is going to change,” Carmon said. “The architects are evaluating the feasibility of making the buildings useable with offices, making sure they meet all codes of a public building.”

One change will be the front entrance, which will be at the rear of the buildings, closer to parking for employees.

The health department has 100 to 125 employees and the Department of Social Services has 110 to 125. Both also have offices in Rocky Mount.

Carmon also is hopeful the county can use some federal funds to make the buildings more energy efficient. The chiller on top of one of the buildings may need repair or replacement, he said.

Also, the county manager is optimistic about obtaining some federal loans at 3 to 5 percent.

“As soon as we have a plan and get the board’s blessing, we will put it out to bid in short order,” Carmon said.

The health department, now at 2909 Main St. in Tarboro, needs more space.

The Department of Social Services, now at 3003 Main St. in Tarboro, is in a building that most people would agree is in disrepair with an antiqued steam heating system.

Text Only
Local News
  • Car burglars arrested

    A Tarboro man has been arrested and charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor by the Tarboro Police Department detectives division after he allegedly stole GPS systems from two separate vehicle.

    May 25, 2012

  • Historic Albemarle Tour a benefit to area communities

    Even though the price of gas has dropped significantly over the past several weeks, the fact it climbed to nearly $4 per gallon had a significant impact on the budgets of many people.

    May 25, 2012

  • NOAA: Less active season

    Six-weeks after storm researchers from Colorado State University suggested the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season will be less active than normal, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) agrees — more or less.

    May 25, 2012

  • Perdue’s Budget would aid ECPS

    Despite her lame-duck status and a General Assembly controlled by the opposing party, Gov. Bev Perdue’s 2012-2013 budget, unveiled this past week, calls for a net increase of more than $562 million in K-12 school funding over what is currently planned for next year.

    May 25, 2012

  • ECPS students chosen for 2012 governor’s school

    Two 11th-grade students from Edgecombe County Public Schools have been chosen to attend North Carolina Governor’s School this summer.

    May 25, 2012

  • DAR Micajah Pettaway Chapter sees fashions and styles of Jackie Kennedy Onasis

    The DAR Micajah Pettaway Chapter met 11:00 a. m., Thursday, May 17 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.  After Frankie Powell, First Vice Regent, welcomed everyone, she introduced new members Mary Ann Crawford, Angela Urquhart and prospective member Jaiann Rains from Rocky Mount.

    May 24, 2012

  • Civitas Poll: Parents primed for school reform

    If legislators listen to their constituents, school reform in North Carolina will happen.
    In a new poll released Wednesday by the Civitas Institute, results indicate that by large margins North Carolinians support a wide range of school reforms now before the state legislature.

    May 24, 2012

  • Edgecombe health stats spiral down

    In 2011, there were 12,164 premature deaths in Edgecombe County, according to a 2012 report compiled by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.
    In the same report, it was noted that 1,167 county citizens were treated for a sexually transmitted infection. In the same report, North Carolina averaged 445 and the national benchmark was 84.

    May 24, 2012

  • Americans will remember fallen Monday

    On Monday, Americans honor the fallen men and women who have served our country through the military with the annual observance of Memorial Day.

    May 24, 2012

  • CORRECTION

    In a story titled “School board approves Roberson revisions” that appeared in the Thursday, May 17 edition, there were numerous errors. The story was written about the May 14 meeting of the Edgecombe County School Board.

    May 23, 2012