By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@Salisburypost
The need for a larger water line has put a glitch in plans for a new $7.8 million classroom building at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
The project is on temporary hold until the college can come up with an estimated $200,000 to install a 12-inch water line.
Rowan County commissioners will consider a request for the extra dollars at their meeting Monday. The county has also asked the city of Salisbury to share the cost.
Dr. Carol Spalding, president of the college, and other top officials met recently with County Manager Gary Page and Arnold Chamberlain, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
Detailed drawings sent to the state called for a 6-inch water line to serve the new building. State officials said a larger line is needed to supply the building and campus.
The larger line would provide “adequate (water) pressure” to fight a fire in the building, RCCC spokesman Jeff Lowrance said.
Under the revised plan, a 12-inch line would be brought off an existing line on Old Concord Road and come in along the new entrance to the college.
Page said the new line would serve the college and meet future growth needs for a decade or more.
College officials had planned to put the project out for bids in December.
If the county gives the go-ahead Monday, the project can go forward on schedule.
Page said the estimated cost for the larger water line is between $183,000 and $200,000.
Page said the board may opt to give the go-ahead for bidding the project and determine exactly what the additional cost is before giving final approval.
“In the work of construction, these things happen. It’s unfortunate,” Chamberlain said Tuesday. “I’m hopeful that the city will participate.”
In his Monday letter to Mayor Susan Kluttz, Chamberlain noted that the college will be served by Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.
“At this time in Rowan County, this would be a great way to provide required services to one of our most valued assets in Salisbury-Rowan. Also, (it would be) a great example of joint cooperation and caring,” wrote Chamberlain.
Kluttz has not responded and was unavailable for comment Tuesday. She and other Salisbury city officials are in New York meeting with financial experts related to the city efforts to secure $30 million for a fiber-optic network.
The new building at RCCC will house the continuing education, law enforcement and fine arts programs, along with a gymnasium and general-use classrooms.
Construction will likely take about a year, Lowrance said.
Staff reporter Sarah Nagem contributed to this story.