Contract awarded for chamber work

During a Feb. 6 meeting, the members of the Sparta Town Council approved a resolution which authorizes Sparta Mayor John Miller to concur on behalf of the town with a contract and any change orders regarding work on the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center, located at 58 S. Main St., Sparta.

A budgeted amount for the project, contracted to Specialty Builders of Galax, Va., is $29,700.

Town Manager Bryan Edwards explained to council members that the contract, which was initially awarded in 2003, needed to be re- authorized because the project had been put on hiatus and no work had been done to the facility since the initial authorization of the contract and several changes, including a change in executive directors, had taken place.

Bob Bamberg has served as the Chamber's executive director since the fall of 2004. Anticipating a summer ‘07 completion date, Bamberg commented work to the facility would include new carpet and painting in the front two rooms of the building, as well as improvements to the restrooms, replacement or repair of faulty light fixtures, a new awning in the front of the building and other small repairs. Commenting on the delay of the work, Bamberg attributed it to a "number of things," noting at one point and time, there was a hope of making the facility, in its entirety, handicapped accessible. The location has also faced problems with asbestos and a leaking roof. Addressing what the work on the building means to the town, Bamberg stated, "We're the first impression a lot of people have of Alleghany County. We need to make a better impression and this renovation allows us to do that."

Cemetery Project

Edwards addressed a columbarium, an agenda item listed to have been discussed by Harold Church.

Edwards explained that Church asked the town to consider erecting a columbarium, a large monument-type structure designed to hold cremated remains, in the town cemetery. The structure would be divided into niches, or separate compartments that could be labeled with the name of the decedent.

"These niches will hold one container of cremated remains, and people would buy these niches as they buy plots," Edwards said.

The estimated cost of installation is $12,000.

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