Hertford breaks ground for new Public Works building

Town of Hertford officials and public works employees gathered last week to break ground for the town’s new public works building on Meads Circle.

Work started Monday on the 60-foot by 200-foot metal building that will be constructed south of the town’s wastewater treatment plant, according to Town Manager Janice Cole.

Cole previously said the new structure is needed because Hertford Public Works’ current building is in terrible shape and has a roof that is not repairable.

“For too long our employees at the wastewater office have had to work in substandard conditions with substantial leaks when it rains requiring them to keep themselves, equipment, computers and important documents dry,” Cole said.

Hertford Town Council agreed at its Feb. 26 meeting to hire Sunbury-based Classic Steel Buildings to replace the town’s Public Works Administration building at 142 Meads Circle with a new building estimated to cost $411,860. The costs include the building’s concrete slab, insulation and plumbing.

Funding for the new building will come from two sources, $311,860 from the town’s fund balance and $100,000 from the town’s electric fund.

The current Public Works Administrative building currently houses only the town’s public works administrative staff. The new building will be large enough to house all of the public works division — the administrative department, street department and eventually the water department, Cole has said.

The offices for the street and electric department will move from the old ice plant on Grubb Street to the new facility, she said.

“This is consistent with the Hertford Community and Riverfront Plan, which has public services vacating that building and it being converted for commercial use,” Cole said.

Cole also said the current Public Works Administrative building will be demolished.

The interior of the new Public Works building will be completed by town employees as funds become available, Cole said, adding that there currently is no end date for the project.

“We are doing this as economically as we can,” she said.

Attending the Monday, April 8th groundbreaking were Mayor Ashley Hodges, members of Hertford Town Council, the town’s public works director and public works employees, and former Mayor Earline Brown.