FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Flowery Branch City Council has approved the final maximum price and set a groundbreaking date for the new city hall project that is set to begin construction in the coming months.
The council agreed at their meeting Thursday night to add an addendum to their contract with Hogan Construction that will set the maximum price of the project, as well as the extension of Pine Street and storm water work in and around the new building, at just under $5.3 million.
City Manager Bill Andrew said at the council's last meeting that the project was still projected to stay under the expected budget, despite some unexpected issues. He said those issues have mostly been sorted out, now that the building's design has been completed.
"We had expected to start this project with a building that wasn't at 100 percent design, but the building is 100 percent designed now, it's finished," Andrew said. "So any unknown's you might get...those issues have been answered because we're at 100 percent designed."
The building itself will cost just over $4.5 million. City officials have also left contingency money left within the budget and Hogan Construction representatives said any savings made during the project will go back to the city.
The maximum price addendum was approved 3-2, with councilmen Joe Anglin and Christopher Mundy voting against the measure. Hogan representatives said they expect the project to take about eight months to complete once construction begins. Officials said that could start as soon as February.
The council also decided to set the groundbreaking ceremony for Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 5:00 p.m.
