Progress Report: Mauldin Cultural Center

During committee meetings Tuesday night at Mauldin City Hall, Tom Keith of Arbor Engineering updated city officials on the progress of the landscaping project that will unite the Cultural Center and the Sports Center.

In the last week, Keith said, an area of soft ground measuring approximately 20 feet by 40 feet was discovered beneath the parking lot. Keith said that at some point previously the space had been filled in with soft dirt, but it was now too fragile to do major construction.

One of the contractors on site, LJ Inc., will prepare a bid to fill the area according to Keith.

City Administrator Trey Eubanks said that the discovery might not affect the scheduled completion or the budget of the project. Eubanks also said that a $15,000 contingency was built into the budget.

“This is why we have contingencies,” he said. “If we’re going to put money into a project we’re going to do it right.”

In other news related to City Center, city officials also announced that in the design for the project flagpoles have been shifted eight feet from East Butler to allow for utility lines.

Lastly, officials confirmed plans to run a storm water drain line under the access to the parking lot to Murray Drive that will accommodate storm water runoff in the City Center area.

In news regarding the inside of the Cultural Center, Eubanks said work has begun on the renovation of the auditorium and should be completed in time for an event run by the Fire Department in recognition of Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9-15.