Agricultural Center being wind-hardened

Construction was under way this week on the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center at George Boulevard and U.S. 27, to bring the building that serves as a special needs shelter up to wind-compliant standards.

Bill Nichols, who is the Highlands County Emergency Management director, said the work was made possible through a 75 percent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant and a 25 percent county match.

"That building has been functioning as our special needs shelter since the health department building sustained damage to its roof (during Hurricane Charlie in 2004)," said Nichols on Wednesday.

The building sustained about $180,000 in damages. The roofing membrane was compromised and water leaked inside causing interior damage to ceiling tiles, carpeting, etc.

"We actually moved our special needs patients from that building over to the Agri-Civic Center (as it was called at that time)," he said.

The county had received two Hazard Mitigation Grants through FEMA to retrofit two county buildings.

One grant was for $575,000, including a 25 percent match from the county for the civic center and a second grant was for $275,000 including county matching funds for the Highlands County Health Department building.

Because it took a while for the grant applications to go through and the economic downturn, the project was actually bid much lower.

The bids for the two buildings came in at about $454,000 and $189,000 respectively, Nichols said.

While both projects were started at the same time, the health department building is nearly completed because it was a newer building than the agricultural center and did not require as much work.

Exterior masonry and walls were reinforced, he said.

The agricultural center will have its roof reinforced including a drain system and removal and refastening of the old roof with a new metal roof placed on top.

The health department work was being constructed by Trinity Development Corporation, of Sebring, and the Agricultural Center was being constructed by Coral Sands Construction from North Port, he said.

The shelter will be ready for this hurricane season, said Nichols.

"Our special needs people will (have) a safe shelter this year," he said.

The wind-speed ratings should be in the neighborhood of 130 to 140 mph, he said.

Lake Placid

Plans for the Lake Ridge Civic Center and Hurricane Shelter to be constructed on Tangerine Avenue in Lake Placid are well under way, according to Town Clerk Arlene Tuck.

The issue should be going before the Lake Placid Town Council at its next meeting on Feb. 8, to get permission to go ahead with the sealed plans, for final approval before it goes out to bid, she said.

Tuck hopes to break ground before the summer on the nearly $2 million 17,000-square-foot building, which can seat 600 people.

This shelter is being built with a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state and $600,000 FEMA grant, plus an in-kind match from the town. Alan Grigsby, a large citrus owner, donated the valuable property, she said.

The county provided $20,000 and the town provided $25,000 for the architect, she said.