Courthouse update: 2,126 cubic yards of concrete; 90,000 bricks

The latest update on the construction of a new courthouse was on the agenda at last week's regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners.

The meeting was Friday morning, Feb. 3, at the community center in Jonesboro.

Courthouse construction project manager Mike Smith shared the following update with the county board on progress which had occurred since Jan. 20:

On Friday, the pouring of remaining concrete on all concrete floor areas on Level 1, the lower level and a sally port in the new building was planned.

Mays Construction planned to begin assembly of Level 2 floor beams and floor pans this week.

Footings to the south of the basement wall will continue to be excavated and poured when the weather allows.

The foundation perimeter drain, waterproofing and thermal barriers are installed along the exterior of the south wall and have been backfilled with CA-6 aggregate. A single footing on the south wall was poured Feb. 2 that contained 90 yards of concrete.

As of Friday, a total of 2,126 cubic yards of concrete had been poured. Smith calculated that the amount of concrete which had been poured would cover a football field to a depth of 13 inches.

A coordination meeting was held Jan. 31 and plans for the next three weeks were laid out. The work schedule included:

Removal of over-dig soil from the site. The work was completed Feb. 2.

Arrival of five more semi loads of steel and prefab steel stairs.

Forming and pouring of the wall/column line at the south wall of Level 1.

The start of masonry work in the lower level. Rough-ins for plumbing, electrical and mechanical work to be coordinated with the mason.

Lowel level above grade services have begun to be installed by the following trades: electrical (main and branch services), plumbing (water, septic and rain water); fire protection; gas mains; and communication services.

90,000 bricks are on order; work to lay the bricks is scheduled to start in two to three weeks.

More steel was scheduled to be delivered this week.

Work on storm drains on Mississippi Street was scheduled to begin this week.

Other Business

In other business at Friday's meeting:

Union County Treasurer Darren Bailey reported that the general fund had a balance of $584,797.35 as of Feb. 2.

January expenditures totalled $357,513.25. Revenues for January were $163,393.55.