Board puts brakes on new aging building
By NICOLE CARTRTTE
Staff Writer
Columbus County Department of Aging Director Ed Worley didn’t get the response he was hoping for Monday night.
Commissioners told Worley they were not ready to approve a fundraising effort for a new Department of Aging building in Whiteville.
Worley said some people wanted to contribute to the building and that his department was exploring grant possibilities.
“I would need your directions on naming a fundraising firm or individual,” Worley said. Last week, he had mentioned the possibility of a local firm or individual managing the fundraiser but his mention of former commissioner Kip Godwin apparently did not sit well with Commissioner James Prevatte. He asked if Worley had already picked someone out for the job.
“Kip (Godwin) has been a person that has done this in the past,” Worley explained, pointing out he was one among others but not someone he had chosen.
“What kind of bind are we getting ourselves in? I support it but if the funds don’t come through (from Raleigh) it looks like we are getting the cart before the horse,” Commissioner Ricky Bullard said.
“No one wants to see us have a senior center more than me,” Commissioner Bill Memory said, but echoed that the board needed to wait to see if a $1 million appropriation bill that Rep. Dewey Hill and Sen. R.C. Soles had introduced in both the N.C. House and Senate would come through first.
“We haven’t even decided that that is the spot,” Prevatte declared of talk that the aging building would be constructed on county-owned land near the intersection of Campground Road and U.S. 701 Bypass. The lot is located behind the Farmers Market and Cooperative Extension Service offices.
Commissioner Amon McKenzie took a different view. “What problem would there be with raising money?” he asked, pointing out it might motivate legislators to see that the citizens are serious about getting a new building.
Commissioner Ronald Gore pointed out that if $250,000 were raised, the county would be stuck holding onto people’s money for a project the county did not have enough money to complete.
Chairman Sammie Jacobs suggested the board take the request under advisement.
“We can’t keep spending money and I don’t think we should plan on spending money,” Bullard said. He added that he would “like to know the pros and cons” of a building shared by the Department of Aging and Parks and Recreation.
Worley’s vision for the new building includes an indoor exercise facility and walking track, and county Parks and Recreation has long advocated for more activities for youth and families in the area.
“We also need to look at how large a building we are talking about,” Prevatte said.
Gore pointed out he was on a committee appointed a few months ago to investigate the possibility of constructing a new Department of Aging building.
“Nobody in this world needs any more office space than Ed Worley,” Gore said of the 8,800 square foot building that houses 27 offices.
He alluded to the possibility of buildings available that would provide double the space the department has now but would be less expensive than a new building. He said Worley’s drawing of a proposed building would cost about $3.5 million to construct.
Gore said if the state appropriates $1 million the fundraiser or county would not have to come up with so much money.
“There’s a good possibility, but it’s a possibility,” Gore said.
“We’re showing a good faith effort, we should be trying to put money forth,” Worley explained of the fundraiser.
“Get further commitments. It can still go your way,” Jacobs told Worley. “There’s no one that wants to see a new Department of Aging building more than I do.”
“Our seniors want to see one, too,” Worley said.
“We intend in some way to get you in a better place,” Jacobs said. Realizing it did not sound exactly as intended, he added: “Here on earth, while you are here.”