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Better news looms for wellness center project
After months of uncertainty, issues of soil stabilization and nagging questions the $28 million Greencastle wellness center/YMCA project appears to be back on track.
That was the word from an update provided to Greencastle Redevelopment Commission members Thursday night by property manager Ross Warner and Eric Wise of Tonn and Blank Construction.
They provided a number of bullet-point updates on what has been done recently:
• Completed rough excavation of storm water detention area adjacent to west parking lot.
• Completed first lift of fill dirt on building pad and west parking lot. Some discing of soil for drying and compaction purposes.
• Saturday (Aug. 12) and Monday (Aug. 14) rain slowed the drying work. Not much work done on Monday (Aug. 14) due to rain.
• Started south parking lot detention area Thursday and using excavated soil to fill building pad and west parking lot.
• Excavation of cut areas has begun and dirt is being used for the building pad and west parking lot lifts.
• If weather cooperates over the next 10 days, the site will be ready for the recommended soil stabilization of the top lift of building pad, west parking lot and main entry road.
That last bullet point got the attention of RDC members after Warner noted that some of the soil stabilization was “found not to be needed.” The subgrade passed a proof roll test of the parking lot area, Warner added.
“I worry about the worst-case scenario,” RDC member Gary Lemon said. “Are we over the worst-case scenario? Is the soil now ready and we can expect no further soil stabilization delays?
“Tell me I’m right,” urged Lemon, easily the most vocal of RDC members about the project.
Warner offered further good news.
“It’s a good assumption,” he told Lemon, “from what we know today.
“We believe the site should be in good shape,” he added, noting that it is hoped the building pad and parking lot would be readied for construction by the end of the month.
“The week of Aug. 29, we’d like to get started,” Warner said, indicating a revised schedule -- including announcement of a substantial completion date on the project -- is expected later this week.
Meanwhile, Lemon asked City Attorney Laurie Hardwick about ongoing negotiations on a contract with Putnam County Hospital on its 11,000-square-foot portion of the 70,995-square-foot facility being built on the south side of State Road 240 on 73 acres purchased from the Ballard family just east of the Walmart supercenter.
“Everything is really good,” Hardwick responded.
“That’s satisfying,” Lemon replied.
Fellow GDC members Erika Gilmore, Gwen Morris and Brian Cox joined Lemon for the special session at City Hall. Stacie Langdon was absent. Also on hand were Mayor Bill Dory, Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar and City Attorney Hardwick.
The next meeting of the RDC is set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 at City Hall.