Harford County will spend nearly half a million dollars on two capital projects to replace and repair portions of local recreation facilities.
The members of the Board of Estimates members unanimously voted recently to approve a $155,990 contract with Modern Remodeling Inc., of Baltimore, to replace the roof of the William McFaul Activities Center in Bel Air and a $312,738 contract with Dissen & Juhn Corp., of Stevensville, to improve the boat ramp at the Broad Creek Public Landing in Darlington.
The roof replacement at the popular McFaul Center is something that has been needed for a long time, county government spokesperson Cindy Mumby said Monday.
"The building opened in 2001 and the roof has leaked from Day 1," she said.
Mumby said the leakage problems are more noticeable on the inside of the building than on the roof itself. She said leakage occurred under the singles and the plywood base, damaging interior ceiling tiles. Past repair efforts have been for naught, she said.
"This has been a workmanship issue, but the company that installed the roof is no longer in business and the owner is dead, so there was no recourse," she said.
The contract will involve replacing the damaged base and installation of new shingles, with a three-year guarantee on the work and a 30-year warranty on the shingles, Mumby said.
Boat ramp work
Dave Goodwin, project manager with the Department of Parks and Recreation, said the improvements include creating accessibility for boat ramp users with disabilities, revetment replacements and restoring a failing storm drain.
Parks and recreation officials also plan to replace a timber bulkhead, use a concrete plank ramp to replace the current boat ramp, build "stone flank" walls and a floating aluminum pier and improve the parking area, according to bid documents.
Goodwin said the work is being funded by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources through a federal fisheries grant.
Lease agreements approved
The Board of Estimates also unanimously approved several lease agreements during its most recent session on June 16, including a one-year, $55,274.68 agreement to lease 7 Franklin St. from the City of Aberdeen for the Aberdeen Senior Center.
That agreement comes with four one-year renewal terms, and the cost increases by 3 percent each year, according to bid documents.
The board also approved agreements to lease two properties in the Forest Hill Industrial Airpark.
They include leasing Unit 2 at 104 Industry Lane from Forest Hill Industrial Airpark Inc. for one year for $39,574.56 for the Department of Emergency Services' HAZMAT unit, plus 133 Industry Lane from Martin Family LLC for one year at $132,274.80 for the county's elections office.
Both agreements come with four one-year renewal terms, and the costs will increase 3 percent each year if renewed.