SALISBURY – County commissioners will consider approving an agreement Monday with ADW Architects to design an agricultural center and events space at West End Plaza.

The project includes reuse of a portion of the West End Plaza including the former Belk space and adjacent tenant spaces. The total estimated cost of the work — including bid alternates and not including furniture, fixtures, equipment and other “soft costs” — is $17.9 million. The fee to be paid to ADW Architects for architecture and engineering work would be $1.21 million, not including reimbursable expenses.

County commissioners will meet at 3 p.m. Monday in the Rowan County Administration Building, at 130 W. Innes St. to consider the agreement.

The scope of the project includes the design, bid and construction of interior and exterior of the West End Plaza in the old Belk building and adjacent space in the former mall’s main hallway as well as a portion of the exterior of the building. The work would include keeping existing Belk entries, a new window opening for office space and pre-function spaces and site preparation behind the former Belk building for demonstration gardens and accessory buildings.

The project would build space for for Rowan County Cooperative Extension, the forestry service, soil and water district and an agriculture meeting center.

Commissioners asked for the interior work to not exceed $15 million, including fixtures, furniture and equipment as well as design fees.

The estimated cost for the base scope of the project is $10.6 million and includes all interior work for offices and meeting space. The agreement commissioners will consider says it also includes “modest alterations” to the exterior necessary for interior uses to function correctly and site prep for the demonstration gardens and storage buildings.

The first alternate includes exterior alterations to the façade of the Belk building, including removal of Belk entry features, new entries and canopies, an outdoor covered public space for public assembly and more. The estimated cost for the first alternate is $3 million.

The second alternate includes items such as parking lot and site alterations to the Belk building to improve vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow. It is estimated at $1.6 million

The third alternate includes exterior and parking lot alterations between the Belk building and the J.C. Penney building to match the level of improvements in alternative one and two. The estimated cost of work is set at $2.7 million

Based on an estimated total cost of work at $17.9 million, ADW Architects calculated that its fee for services would be $1.21 million.

Once commissioners bid the project and receive responses, they could choose whether to ask a contractor to build a facility with all alternates, one or two or just the base project.

County commissioners will determine the design phase milestone dates, the construction commencement date, substantial completion date and other milestone dates Monday.

Items on the consent agenda include:

• An interlocal agreement with Davidson County for inspection services. The agreement would allow Rowan County to provide inspection services for Davidson and vice versa.
• A Scotch Irish Volunteer Fire Department firetruck refinancing.
• The Rowan Transit System safety/continuity of operations plan, which must be approved annually.
• Acceptance of a $276,000 bid from Interstate Roofing Company, Inc. for the administration building roofing project.
• Directing the county manager and county attorney to work with nonprofit Shelter Guardians to construct a new dog adoption center.
• An agreement for county to pay $375 quarterly to Michael Taylor as a travel allowance to provide chaplain services at Rowan County commissioners meetings.

In other business:

• There will be a public hearing for the ground mounted solar energy system moratorium. The moratorium would apply to any project in the county’s jurisdiction that submits plans in excess of 6,000 square feet. It is not applicable to people who want to place solar panels on residential property.
• Steven Sechler is requesting a rezoning of his family’s property on N.C. 152 and N.C. 152 from RA to CBI.
• The board will consider approval of a negotiated bid and contract for transportation management services. The only proposal submitted was from Rowan County’s current provider, MV Transportation.
• The board will review bids for construction of the Cleveland Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Station. The highest bid is $1.14 million. The lowest bid is $804,313.