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Fallen shelter gets $15,000 boost from Farm Bureau

By Mike Conley

Inmates are back at work reconstructing the shelter.

By Mike Conley | The McDowell News

Published: June 7, 2009

At Tuesday's regular meeting, the Marion City Council received a check for $15,000 from James Nations, president of McDowell County Farm Bureau. The money was donated toward the construction of the market shelter.
However, the partially built structure collapsed on Memorial Day. Since then, city officials have looked into how they could rebuild the shelter and make it as strong and safe as possible, while also keeping in mind the cost.
The McDowell County Farm Bureau had already pledged the $15,000 before the unfinished shelter collapsed. At last week's meeting, Nations said he and his organization want to see it finished. It will provide a shelter for the farmers who will sell their homegrown goods there.
"We're just hoping to see it under a roof very quickly," said Nations. "We've had a little setback. We see it as a big asset to the downtown area. We see this as an avenue for our farm producers."
City officials said they appreciate the donation from the local Farm Bureau.
"This has made it possible," said Mayor Everette Clark. "This can be used for other events, and that is what's going to make it nice."
Council also heard an update about what's being done to rebuild the structure. The city asked the Asheville engineering firm of McGill Associates and the structural engineering firm of Sutton-Kennerly Associates to look at the plans and make recommendations. The engineers said the posts should be installed in poured concrete footers attached with anchor bolts. On Wednesday, the inmates from the N.C. Department of Correction were doing just that.
The engineers also recommended that the city stick with the original design but it should have a metal roof instead of an asphalt shingle roof. A licensed contractor will be on site to supervise the construction.
City officials said this project could not be done without inmate labor, which they estimate is worth $100,000.
"The inmates were devastated at what happened," said Clark.
Sam Dotson, manager of the local Minimum Security Unit, said he agrees with the recommendations and wants to see it completed. He added the inmates lost sleep over the shelter's collapse and he did, too.
"We're glad to be able to help the city," said Dotson. "We're committed to this project. We're going to get it done."
In addition to Farm Bureau's donation, the city is getting $5,000 from Marion Rotary Club and $500 from Carolina Farm Credit in Spindale. The city got $20,000 from the N.C. Small Town Economic Prosperity (STEP) program for the shelter.
Although some have questioned whether or not the shelter should even be built, no one spoke against it at last week's City Council meeting.
"We still believe and have every intention that this project can be done at no cost to the taxpayers," said City Manager Bob Boyette. "We're going to save money and build a structure that's safe and strong."
Boyette added there would be some cost for having the engineers to look at the plans but it would not be too much.
City officials said the work to install a downtown wireless network should begin this month. Folks will be able to look at the Internet using their laptop computers in downtown Marion when it is completed. The city also plans to install two Web cams on buildings along Main Street. The Crooked Door Coffee House and Bill Griffith's jewelry store were mentioned as possible locations.
In other business, the Marion City Council:
· Adopted the annexation ordinances for some properties on Airport Road and N.C. 226 South.
· Got to meet three summer interns from Appalachian State University who will work for the city. The interns are being provided at no cost to the city by the N.C. STEP program. They are Chess Collins, a second-year graduate student; Cole Setzer, a second-year graduate student; and Danielle Hagerman, a graduate student.
· Did not honor a Citizen of the Month for June. Clark said the person he chose for the honor could not attend the meeting. Council decided they would wait and honor that person at the August meeting.