The oft-delayed renovations to Meridian’s city hall may not be completed by the current February 28 deadline, Meridian Finance and Records Director Ed Skipper said at a City Council meeting Tuesday.

    Skipper said the creation of decorative plaster for the building’s interior was delayed when the subcontractor, Evergreene Architectural Arts, hired by the general contractor, Panola Construction, to make the plaster was fired for “some issues with. . . meeting the specifications.”

    Skipper said it took a long time to for the general contractor to find a replacement subcontractor because of the specialized type of work that was being done.

    “That’s really been the biggest glitch,” he said.

    Evergreene has sued Panola and B.B. Archer, an architect working on the project, and another entity for more than $4 million because they feel they were wrongfully terminated.

    Skipper said the decorative plasterwork on City Hall might not be done by February 28 because of the change in subcontractors, but that other work is proceeding on schedule.

    Other work that is being done includes, among other things, removal of old paint, putting up new stud walls and sheet rock, installing interior window trim, and installing complicated systems of duct work and conduits.

    Skipper said workers have completed the removal of old asphalt and concrete and other demolition, the installation of new ceiling grid work and replacement of damaged plaster ceiling panels, the installation of sprinkler piping, and “roughly 90 percent” of mechanical work.

    Skipper shot down rumors, brought up by council members that a large amount of expensive furnishings for City Hall are currently in storage. Skipper said the city has not purchased any furnishings for city hall, and that “we do not have any exotic furnishings stored anywhere.”

    He didn’t shoot down rumors that the contractor will ask for an extension on their deadline; Skipper said he could not say for sure whether the contractor would have work complete by the February 28 deadline, but indicated that an extension was a distinct possibility.

    Skipper encouraged the city council to grant an extension if it is asked for, saying, “We don’t want them to rush to meet a deadline and then it not be right.”

    Ward 1 Councilman Dr. George Thomas said he doesn’t feel the contractor should be granted an extension. “I want to be able to walk in there March 1 and see a totally complete, perfect building,” he said. “If they have a hiccup, that’s their problem. . . I’m real concerned by the lack of progress. I’m very concerned.”

    Skipper said there has been a lot of progress made on the project, other than the decorative plasterwork. “I’m advised that the mechanical and the construction part of the project are on schedule. It’s just the specialized part (that is not).”

    Renovations on the nearly 100-year-old building began in 2006; they were expected to be completed for $7 million to $8 million over the course of two years. Now, the expected total cost of the project has more than doubled to $18 million, and so has the timeline.

    Delays and added costs have plagued the project, with the extent of renovations needed to stay in compliance with Mississippi Department of Archives and History regulations being more than expected.

    Once renovations are completed, furnishings will be installed and minimal landscaping such as laying grass will be done before local government moves back in to the building.

   

    In other business at Tuesday’s council meeting:

   

    – The council dealt with a delay in the acquisition of land for a new fire station to the recently annexed area of Meridian. The council rescinded an order to purchase land after learning the land they purchased was not approved for sewer service by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The council voted to purchase an option on the property while MDEQ approval is sought.

   

    – The council approved the installation of a new pump station at the wastewater treatment plant at South Industrial Park.

   

    – The council changed the name of 46th Ave. East, also known as West Malone Ranch Rd., to Handy Blvd., and authorized the installation of street lights there.